HKL MRT station makes travelling to hospital a breeze for patients

KUALA LUMPUR - The opening of the Kuala Lumpur Hospital (HKL) Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station, which is part of the Putrajaya MRT Line that went into full operation recently, has been a boon to patients seeking treatment at the hospital. Checks by Bernama found that the station, which is near the HKL Urology and Nephrology Institute, is among the most user-friendly stations and is equipped with a 400-metre walkalator.

Technician Radzuan Hashim, 51, said his visit to HKL from Taman Kinrara, Puchong, was much faster and easier compared to his previous trips, which required him to switch trains.

"Previously, I took the Light Rail Transit (LRT) from Kinrara BK5, got down at Hang Tuah Station and change to the monorail to go to Chow Kit Station and then walked to HKL. Now I don’t need to make so many changes and it saves time,” he said.

Retiree Joseph Edward Raj, 77, meanwhile, took the opportunity to obtain treatment at the National Heart Institute (IJN), located near HKL.

"Usually I drive, but today, I took the MRT on purpose to see the facilities and route to IJN. I can see that I’m able to walk there, it’s around one kilometre (km), but it’s hot, so I will be tired out,” he said.

HKL patient Syafiqah Musa, 30, is suggested that the relevant authorities prepare a shuttle service at the station’s exit point to make travel easy, especially for the elderly and persons with disability (PwD). "To walk from the station’s exit to several departments and clinics at the hospital isn’t that far. For the young, it’s not a problem but for the PwD and elderly it might be difficult,” the life-long public transport user said.

Meanwhile, Information Technology executive Hafizullah Mokhtar Lopi, 44, expressed his satisfaction with the service, that he claimed was disabled-friendly.

"My family and I brought my child, who has Celebral Palsy and is wheelchair bound. Alhamdulillah, we didn’t face any problems. From my observation, starting from the car park, the lift until we’re on the MRT, every facility for the disabled is adequate,” he said.

Even though the MRT2 fares have yet to be announced, novelist Anuar Darwisy, 29, is confident that it would be affordable and flexible.

"Previously, if I don’t drive, I would use the Express Rail Link (ERL) from KL Sentral to Putrajaya, costing RM14 one way.

"Now, I only need to take the MRT from Titiwangsa Station for an hour-long trip to Putrajaya and I believe the fare will be much cheaper,” he said.

Bernama also spoke to Nurul Izzati Bahari, 34, who was spotted making the most of the free rides till March 31 to take her daughter Nur Raihana Mohd Syafiq, 4, on the MRT, even though she only went for a return trip between HKL Station and the Persiaran KLCC MRT Station.

The Putrajaya MRT Line Phase Two was fully opened yesterday, completing a 57.7 km route from Kwasa Damansara to Putrajaya Sentral, across 36 stations and 49 sets of trains, while Putrajaya Line Phase One began operation on June 16 last year, involving a 17.5 km route from Kwasa Damansara to Kampung Batu. - BERNAMA