Will PJD Link be revived if developer meets conditions?

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The Revival of the PJD Link Project Hinges on Developer Compliance with State and Resident Demands

The Petaling Jaya Dispersal Link (PJD Link) expressway project could potentially be revived if its developer successfully meets the conditions set by the Selangor state government and addresses the concerns of local residents. While caretaker Mentri Besar Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari stated that the project's cancellation, announced prior to the state election, was final and would not be revisited, he acknowledged the possibility of its continuation under specific circumstances. The core of any potential revival lies in the developer's ability to satisfy both governmental requirements and public sentiment.
Conditions for Project Continuation

Amirudin Shari indicated that the PJD Link could proceed if the developer can fulfill all stipulated conditions from the state and gain the acceptance of the local populace. Currently, the project remains stalled because these conditions have not been met. This implies a two-tiered approval process where both administrative and public consensus are critical for moving forward. The caretaker Mentri Besar emphasized that the well-being of the people is the utmost priority, and the state is unwilling to compromise residents' livelihoods for development.
Historical Context and Previous Approvals

The PJD Link was initially conceived as a 34.3km dual-carriage, four-lane expressway with eight interchanges, designed to connect Bandar Utama and Bukit Jalil as an alternative to the Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong (LDP). The project received in-principle approval from the federal government on November 12, 2017, followed by a conditional approval on November 12, 2021. A significant condition for this approval was that the developer must satisfy all requirements set by the Selangor government before construction could commence. Subsequently, a concession agreement was signed on April 5, 2022, by the federal government, obligating the developer to complete a full Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), Social Impact Assessment (SIA), and Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA).
Strong Resident Opposition

Despite the conditional approvals, the PJD Link has faced substantial opposition from residents. An independent survey conducted in May revealed that 93.6% of residents along the proposed alignment disagreed with the project. Their primary concerns revolved around potential noise and air pollution from the expressway, as well as skepticism regarding its effectiveness in alleviating traffic congestion. This overwhelming majority also believed that their families would be negatively impacted by the project.
Legal Challenges and Transparency Concerns

In response to the perceived lack of transparency surrounding the project's conditional approval, a residents' group, operating under the banner "Say No to PJD Link," filed a lawsuit in June. The legal action was directed at several government departments, including the Director General of the Department of Town and Country Planning and the Selangor State Government. The group sought access to classified documents, citing a deficiency in transparency regarding the conditional approval process for the PJD Link.

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Will PJD Link be revived if developer meets conditions?

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