{
  "id": 14356230,
  "title": "Budget 2027: New Kota Bharu ECRL bus station to ease congestion, improve connections",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/budget-2027-new-kota-bharu-ecrl-bus-station-to-ease-congestion",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-14T03:12:47.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Malay Mail",
    "slug": "malay-mail-malaymail",
    "url": "https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2026/10/14/budget-2027-new-kota-bharu-ecrl-bus-station-to-ease-congestion-improve-connections/239029"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "In Malaysia's Budget 2027, plans have been announced to construct a new bus station at the Kota Bharu East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) station. This initiative aims to improve public transport connectivity across Kelantan and ease congestion at the main bus terminal in Lembah Sireh. Laili Ismail, a committee member of Pembawa, expressed confidence that the integrated bus station will boost bus ridership by providing passengers with a seamless connection from ECRL to their final destinations, thus reducing reliance on private vehicles. The new facility is also expected to alleviate congestion at the Lembah Sireh terminal during festive seasons and peak hours, when the number of trips daily can reach between 180 and 200. However, Laili stressed the importance of coordinating bus schedules with ECRL services to prevent long waits for passengers. Adequate amenities like comfortable waiting areas, ticket counters, designated pick-up and drop-off zones, and well-organized bus entry and exit routes must also be provided to ensure smooth operations. Residents Ainy Md Yunos and Muhammad Bukhari Ab Ghaffar welcomed the development, emphasizing that it would make travel easier for those without personal vehicles and improve access to rural areas for more Kelantan residents.",
  "summary": "BACHOK, Oct 14 — The new bus station at the Kota Bharu East Coast Rail Link (ECRL) station under Budget 2027 will...",
  "key_points": [
    "New bus station to open at Kota Bharu ECRL station in Budget 2027",
    "Aim to ease congestion, improve connections across Kelantan",
    "Laili Ismail confident of boosting bus ridership and reducing private vehicle use"
  ],
  "editors_take": "Integrating a bus station with the ECRL terminal transforms regional mobility by linking rail and road networks to reduce private vehicle reliance and ease pressure on existing transport hubs.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "Malay Mail",
        "title": "Budget 2027: New Kota Bharu ECRL bus station to ease congestion, improve connections",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/14/budget-2027-new-kota-bharu-ecrl-bus-station-to-ease-congestion-14360924",
        "published": "2026-10-14T03:12:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}