Merdeka MRT station

The Merdeka MRT station is a mass rapid transit (MRT) underground station in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. It is one of the stations of the Klang Valley Mass Rapid Transit (KVMRT) MRT Kajang Line, formerly known as Sungai Buloh–Kajang Line and serves as an interchange station with Plaza Rakyat LRT station for LRT Ampang and Sri Petaling lines. The station was opened on 17 July 2017 under Phase Two operations of the MRT line.[1]

 KG17  Merdeka
Rapid KL (brand)
Mass Rapid transit station
The interior design of the station incorporates the theme of "independence" as shown by this decoration that is inspired by the 14-pointed star of the Malaysian flag.
General information
Other namesChinese: 默迪卡
Tamil: மெர்டேக்கா
LocationJalan Hang Jebat, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.
Coordinates3°8′31.09″N 101°42′7.38″E
Owned byMRT Corp
Operated byRapid Rail
Line(s)9 Kajang
3 Ampang via Plaza Rakyat
4 Sri Petaling via Plaza Rakyat
Platforms1 island platform
Tracks2
ConnectionsIntegrated station to  AG8  SP8  Plaza Rakyat via a 180 metres paid-to-paid pedestrian walkway.
Construction
Structure typeUnderground
ParkingNot available
Bicycle facilitiesnot available
Other information
Station code KG17 
History
Opened17 July 2017
Services
Preceding station Following station
Pasar Seni
towards Sungai Buloh
 Kajang Line Bukit Bintang
towards Kajang

The station's name translates to "independence" in English and is taken from its location near the historic Stadium Merdeka (English: Independence Stadium), where the independence of the Federation of Malaya was declared on 31 August 1957, and the covered Stadium Negara (English: National Stadium). The station is located beneath Jalan Hang Jebat (formerly Jalan Davidson), adjacent to historical landmarks such as Stadium Negara, Stadium Merdeka, Merdeka 118 and the future 118 Mall.

Nearby stations within reach

The station is connected with the  SP8  AG8  Plaza Rakyat LRT station via a 180-metre pedestrian linkway. The linkway connects the paid areas of both stations, thus allowing commuters to transfer between the MRT Kajang Line and the LRT Ampang & Sri Petaling Line.

The station is located about 600 metres and is within walking distance of the  SP9  AG9  Hang Tuah LRT station and  MR4  Hang Tuah monorail station.

Station Design

Station Features
The decorative relief wall portraying the Rukun Negara at the Upper Concourse Level of the station.

As the underground station is near the historic Stadium Merdeka where Malaysia's first Prime Minister Tunku Abdul Rahman declared the independence of the Federation of Malaya from the British Empire on 31 August 1957, the theme "independence" was chosen for the interior design for this station.

The theme is manifested through several features such as a wall at the Upper Concourse Level bearing a relief of the Rukun Negara, the Malaysian national pledge. The ceiling above the escalator leading down from the Upper Concourse Level to the Lower Concourse Level bears a motif of the arms of the 14-pointed star on the flag of Malaysia.[2][3]

At the Lower Concourse Level, each pillar bears the flag and emblem of each states of Malaysia.

Station Layout
G Street Level Entrance A and Entrance B along Jalan Hang Jebat, Taxi and E-hailing Layby, Kiss and ride lay-by, escalators, lifts and staircases to Upper and Lower Concourse levels
B1 MRT Upper Concourse The Merdeka and Rukun Negara feature walls

Future connection to the 118 Mall

B2 MRT Lower Concourse MRT Station Control, MRT Customer Service Office, Ticketing Machines and Fare gates. Entrance C, paid-to-paid walkway to the concourse level of Plaza Rakyat LRT station
B4 MRT Platform Level Platform 1: 9 Kajang towards  SBK35  Kajang (→)
Island platform, doors will open on the right
Platform 2: 9 Kajang towards  KG04  Kwasa Damansara (←)

Exit and entrances
Destinations of the station

The station can be accessed via two main entrances (Entrance A and Entrance B) located along Jalan Hang Jebat, as well as the paid-to-paid walkway from the Plaza Rakyat LRT station via Entrance C. Entrance A is located on the north side of Jalan Hang Jebat near the YWCA and Olympic Hotel while Entrance B is located on the south side near Stadium Negara and Merdeka 118. The station is located about 600 meters and is also within walking distance of the Hang Tuah LRT and monorail station connected with the Bukit Bintang City Centre (BBCC) development.

Kajang Line station
Entrance Location Destination Picture
A North side of Jalan Hang Jebat Shoplots, Grand Olympic Hotel, YWCA KL (Young Women's Christian Association of Kuala Lumpur), Wisma OCM and SJK (C) Jalan Davidson
B South side of Jalan Hang Jebat Stadium Negara, Merdeka 118 Tower, Victoria Institution
C

LRT-MRT Linkway

 Underground at Lower Concourse level with escalator and travelator to elevated linkway LRT Integrated ticketing link MRT
D Upper Concourse Level Direct access to 118 Mall (future connection)

Around the station
Entrance B of the station with the Stadium Negara in the background.

The station is located near the Stadium Merdeka, currently being refurbished as part of the KL118 Tower project. Directly next to Entrance B of the station is Stadium Negara indoor stadium.

The 118-storey Merdeka 118 tower will be the tallest building in Malaysia and in Southeast Asia region once completed. It is currently under construction and will be integrated with the station in the future.[4]

Bukit Bintang City Centre is also located nearby the station and is within walking distance through a linkage walkway.

Bus Services

Being in the city centre, MRT feeder buses do not operate from this station. However, it is adjacent to Pudu Sentral, a city bus station in Kuala Lumpur.

Station
  • Platforms of the Merdeka MRT station.
    Platforms of the Merdeka MRT station.
  • Flags and emblems of Malaysian states on the pillars at the Lower Concourse Level of the station.
    Flags and emblems of Malaysian states on the pillars at the Lower Concourse Level of the station.
  • Bench at the Platform Level of the station which was designed by student Chong Chin Sheng as part of a bench design competition.
    Bench at the Platform Level of the station which was designed by student Chong Chin Sheng as part of a bench design competition.[5]
  • Entrance A of the station.
    Entrance A of the station.
  • The Declaration of Independence feature wall at the Upper Concourse Level of the station.
    The Declaration of Independence feature wall at the Upper Concourse Level of the station.

Linkway to Plaza Rakyat LRT station

See also

References
  1. "SBK Line Full Opening Boosts Coverage of Kuala Lumpur's Urban Rail Network" (PDF). Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd. Archived from the original (PDF) on 9 August 2017. Retrieved 13 August 2017.
  2. "Seven hidden gems of the MRT". Thestar.com.my. 2017-07-09. Retrieved 2017-07-17.
  3. "MRT stations designed to tell the story of M'sia". Thestar.com.my. 2017-08-03. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
  4. "Underground jewels for the Klang Valley MRT | The Star".
  5. "Innovative designs for transit furniture". Thestar.com.my. 2016-05-01. Retrieved 2017-09-04.
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