Varsity township land nearly used up

BANDAR Baru Bangi is 96% developed, and has two more years to go before its land bank is completely used, declared Selangor State Development Corporation (PKNS) development controller Siti Zubaidah Abd Jabar.

The township in Bangi is one of the new growth centres developed by the agency.

The 1,869ha township has a population target of 100,000 upon completion of all project developments.

It is developed based on the “university township” concept due to its close vicinity to 18 public and private institutions of higher learning like Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia, Universiti Putra Malaysia, Selangor International Islamic University College, Malaysia France Institute and Universiti Tenaga Nasional.

“Bandar Baru Bangi used to be an oil palm estate before PKNS began developing the township in the mid-70s. Within 34 years, it has turned into a new growth centre and developed to almost full capacity,” said Siti Zubaidah.

PKNS project: One of the link houses at D’Cempaka in Section 9, Bandar Baru Bangi, which is installed with its own water harvesting system.

PKNS has allocated 20% of land use in the township for housing projects, 15% for recreational projects and 24% for institutional projects.

Industrial projects make up 11%, business 6% and infrastructure 24%.

“An issue of concern is the lack of public transportation, but the bus services are picking up,” she said.

“PKNS presently has eight ongoing projects in Bandar Baru Bangi that are worth over RM100 million. All these projects are done under the ‘Build & Sell’ concept.”

The eight projects are:

·46 units of two-and-a-half storey twin houses in Puncak Bangi (Phase 1a - sold out)

·48 units of two-and-a-half storey twin houses in Puncak Bangi (Phase 1b - under construction; about 40% completed)

·106 units of two-storey link houses and 20 units of two-storey twin houses at D’Cempaka, Section 9 (sold out)

·14 units of two-storey twin houses at Damai Suria, Section 3 (sold out)

·26 units of one-and-a-half storey twin factories at Taman IKS, Section 9 (sold out)

·210 units of apartments at Bangi Idaman, Section 5 (about 60% units sold so far)

·157 units of apartments at Cempaka Sari, Section 9 (unit sales to launch in Aug)

·22 units of two-storey twin houses at Villa Seroja, Section 7 (sold out)

Siti Zubaidah is particularly proud of the D’Cempaka housing project, the only PKNS development in Bandar Baru Bangi with a water harvesting system that is used for flushing the water cistern.

New technology: The individual water harvesting system installed at the houses at D’Cempaka.

“This is a new technology employed by PKNS to make use of natural resources. It costs RM5,000 for each house to have its own water harvesting system,” she explained.

PKNS’ remaining projects for the township include the construction of town houses/service apartments, office shops, a business complex and a convention centre.

Siti Zubaidah added: “Our future plan is to have social programmes for the residents to integrate and develop a relationship within the community.

“We’re working closely with the Bandar Baru Bangi Residents Committee to organise several programmes, like a weekly aerobics and kite-flying session, as well as activities for the upcoming National Day celebrations.

“The Selangor Mentri Besar (Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim) has proposed the idea of having a book street at Taman Tasik Cempaka, which will feature a street selling knowledge-building materials like books and arts and crafts items.”

By The Star (by Jade Chan)