BACHOK, Oct 14 — The new bus station at the Kota Bharu East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) station under Budget 2027 will expand Kelantan’s public transport network and make it easier to travel across the state.
Laili Ismail, a committee member of Pembawa, said the integrated bus station will drive higher bus ridership by providing ECRL passengers a seamless connection to their final destinations.
He said the facility would also reduce reliance on private vehicles, allowing users to continue their journeys without going to a separate terminal.
“This facility could also allow bus operators to expand their services, especially on routes with high demand among users,” he told Bernama recently.
He said the new bus station is also expected to ease congestion at the main bus terminal in Lembah Sireh, Kota Bharu, particularly during festive seasons and peak hours.
“Currently, the bus terminal in Kota Bharu handles around 150 trips daily on normal weekdays, from Monday to Thursday.
“That figure rises to between 180 and 200 trips a day during peak seasons, reflecting the need for an additional terminal to cope with the increase,” he said.
Laili nevertheless stressed that bus schedules must be coordinated with ECRL services to prevent long waits for passengers.
He added that basic amenities, such as comfortable waiting areas, ticket counters, designated pick-up and drop-off zones, and well-organised bus entry and exit routes, must also be factored in to ensure smooth operations.
Tabling Budget 2027 last Friday, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced plans to build a bus station at the Kota Bharu ECRL station, along with a RM270 million allocation to improve stage bus services in major cities, including those connecting the 15 East Coast stations ahead of ECRL operations.
Meanwhile, a resident, Ainy Md Yunos, 74, said a bus station near the ECRL station would make it easier for the public, especially those without their own vehicles, to continue their journeys upon arriving in Kota Bharu.
“If you get off the train and board a bus straight away, it’s much easier. We don’t have to ask family members to pick us up or spend extra on other transport,” she said.
Another resident, Muhammad Bukhari Ab Ghaffar, 30, hoped the bus services provided would also cover rural areas so that more Kelantan residents could benefit from the ECRL facility.
“Bus services are crucial, especially during peak periods such as festive seasons. If there are buses connecting the ECRL station to rural areas, it would make it easier for residents to return to their villages,” he said. — Bernama