By Siti Rohaizah Zainal
SHAH ALAM, Feb 28 — More than 67 million passengers were recorded to have utilised the state’s free Smart Selangor Bus service since its inception in July 2015.
State executive councillor for housing and culture Borhan Aman Shah said the high ridership meant the service has achieved its objective of encouraging the use of public transportation.
He also reiterated the state government’s stand that Smart Selangor Bus was introduced not to make profit, but rather to help reduce the burden of low income families to travel for free within the state.
“The state has spent RM15.03 million in overall operations and maintenance cost throughout last year to the company appointed by the local authorities to carry out the service,” he told the State Legislative Assembly today.
Borhan said this in response to questions from Sentosa assemblyman G. Gunarajah on whether the free bus service has achieved its objective and the total cost incurred by the state administration.
Selangor has allocated RM5 million this year to optimise Smart Selangor Bus and increase the number of vans and minibuses for its demand-responsive transit (DRT) service.