Ekovest Gets Green Light for Two New DUKE Links - What This Means for Klang Valley

Marcus Liew
May 7
2 min read

Infrastructure and property development player Ekovest Bhd has officially received the government’s go-ahead to proceed with the construction of two new highway links under Phase 2A of the Duta-Ulu Kelang Expressway (DUKE) network.

These upcoming links - Laluan Istana Kiara and the Kampung Baru Link - are part of a broader expansion plan that will see DUKE further cement its role as one of Klang Valley’s key traffic arteries.

What's Approved and What's Next?

According to Ekovest’s latest filing to Bursa Malaysia, the first project to kick off will be the Laluan Istana Kiara, pending final clearance and signing of a concession agreement by the Attorney General’s Chambers.

As for the Kampung Baru Link, its concession terms are still being finalised, with a completion deadline set for Dec 31, 2026.

These approvals come seven years after the government initially granted approval-in-principle in January 2017 for three key links: the two above, and a third one - the Kapar Link, which was not updated in the recent announcement.

How Will These Links Help Klang Valley?

The combined length of the three DUKE links is estimated at 75.2 kilometres, forming a vital extension to the existing highway and connecting various pockets of the Klang Valley more efficiently.

This move is expected to:

Ease traffic congestion on major arterial roads
Improve connectivity between suburban and urban centres
Potentially boost property values in nearby areas due to better accessibility

What's the Price Tag?

The total cost of the project is estimated at RM6.32 billion, to be funded via a mix of:

Internally generated funds
Bank borrowings
And/or new fund-raising initiatives

This investment is part of Ekovest’s ongoing strategy to position itself as a major player in both infrastructure and urban development.

DUKE 2 Traffic Trends Point to Growing Demand

Since the opening of DUKE 2 in October 2017, traffic has steadily increased. According to Ekovest, the average daily traffic volume hit 89,103 vehicles in the first half of FY2024, a:

6.2% increase from FY2023
47% surge compared to FY2019

This upward trend signals a strong demand for expressway connectivity in Greater Kuala Lumpur, reinforcing the need for further expansions like these new links.

Final Thoughts: More Than Just Roads

Beyond traffic relief, the expansion of DUKE could bring real estate implications too - especially for transit-linked or highway-accessible developments in Cheras, Setapak, Sentul, and other emerging areas.

With urbanisation continuing across the Klang Valley, connectivity equals value - and Ekovest is betting big on that future.