JOHOR BARU • Johor's new Menteri Besar Osman Sapian has said that the Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link project would require more land than initially planned, and the authorities would continue its talks with land owners in order to secure the space.

Datuk Osman said that some owners of land plots marked for acquisition had demanded higher compensation.

"We need a bigger area for the RTS project, so the number of land owners affected has also increased," he said on Tuesday.

Set to open by end-2024, the RTS Link is a 4km line that will connect Bukit Chagar station in Johor Baru to Woodlands North.

The rail agreement was inked in January between Singapore and Malaysia under the previous Barisan Nasional government with the aim of boosting the cross-border economy and easing commutes across the Causeway. Construction of the link is expected to begin next year.

Mr Osman said that based on current market value, more than RM300 million (S$101.5 million) would need to be paid to land owners in the Kim Teng Park residential area, which has been earmarked for acquisition under the Johor Baru Master Plan.

The 10ha area has 1,500 residents and 300 homes, comprising single-storey terrace houses, single and double-storey semi-detached houses and bungalows.

THE STAR/ASIA NEWS NETWORK