IN RESPONSE to Putra Perdana folk’s grouses over the long wait for bus number 601 in Sepang, Handal Indah, also known as Causeway Link (CL), will expand its fleet from 11 to 15 buses in the next few months, said its planning and strategy director Lim Chern Chuen.

Lim said the company would also be adjusting its bus schedule next week to reduce maximum waiting times.

A mobile app will also be launched within two months so that users can check on estimated arrival times to better plan their journey.

“These gradual improvements will be completed within three months.

“Information will be provided on our buses once these plans are implemented,” said Lim.

To improve logistics, he said the Johor-based bus service provider would be setting up a new depot in Pulau Meranti, Puchong, by next week.

Currently, the bus route starts from Putra Perdana and ends at Central Market in Kuala Lumpur.

The buses are parked at the main depot in Port Klang and it takes an hour’s drive to reach its end point in Jalan Putra Perdana 5D.

This arrangement is aimed at improving the morning runs out of this area with its first trip starting at 6.30am.

The overall investment, including the set-up costs and working capital, is about RM400,000.

CL has also got the clearance from Land Public Transport Commission to operate along two new routes.

Already in operation is bus number 608, running from Pulau Meranti to IOI Mall at 30-minute intervals.

Bus number 503, from Cyberjaya to IOI Mall, will start operations on Oct 1.

These two routes were formerly serviced by Nadi Putra.

Riders will also enjoy up to 3% discounts via a loyalty card programme to be introduced in two weeks’ time.

Having committed itself as a public transport service provider, Lim said the bus company wanted to assure riders that CL would improve its service and reliability.

On suggestions that a number of buses from Puchong Perdana end their journey at IOI Mall in Jalan Puchong, Lim said an exclusive route was possible.

However, he said, a survey to ensure the commercial viability of such a route must be carried out first.