Penang takes LRT project to next phase as Gerakan queries on funding
Penang is now ready to take the Bayan Lepas LRT (BL-LRT) project to the next phase, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
In saying so, he urged Penangites to stand with the state to support the project as they deliver it on time...
Penang is now ready to take the Bayan Lepas LRT (BL-LRT) project to the next phase, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (above).
In saying so, he urged Penangites to stand with the state to support the project as they deliver it on time.
Chow said the public inspection of the BL-LRT system will be carried out in mid-August, which will run for three months.
The state will be holding the public inspection at the locations approved by Land Public Transport Agency (Apad), he added.
"We expect to have at least two or three permanent booth locations and supported with five to six mobile booths which will be on rotation at various public places like shopping malls and transport hubs.
"The public inspection date, venue and timings will be announced via major newspapers soon.
"We encourage the public and interested parties to make full use of the three-month period to study and give us your constructive feedback so that BL-LRT will take off with a good start and ends with serving us better," Chow said in a statement today.
Yesterday, the Transport Ministry announced that the BL-LRT project obtained conditional federal approval with 30 conditions.
The LRT is a component of state's RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), which spans about 29km, across 30 stations from Komtar to Bayan Lepas and ends at the south reclamation area.
According to Section 84 of the Land Public Transport Act 2010, Penang needs to carry out the public inspection to gain full approval of the project.
The state is required to deposit plans, sections and a book of reference for public inspection of the project.
Chow said the public inspection is a binding requirement levied by the Transport Ministry through Apad before the railway scheme receives its final approval.
"The public inspection, apart from complying with the requirement, is also a platform through which the members of the public, stakeholders and just about anyone will be given the opportunity to go through the details of BL-LRT to provide their comments and feedback.
"Members of the public and stakeholders will be able to submit their feedback on all aspects of the project and we will ensure the feedback submission process is available in hardcopy as well as online. The feedback will then be compiled with the recommendation for improvements," he added.
Chow said the public inspection will not be the last as they will continue to engage on the ground with increased frequency during construction for information dissemination which is vital to ensure the source of truth is established and readily available.
He also noted that the PTMP website is being revamped to make it more informative and value for time.
Meanwhile, Gerakan deputy president Oh Tong Keong (above) asked if Putrajaya would be funding the BL-LRT project or whether the state intends to raise funds through further reclamation.
He urged Chow to refer to foreign practices of constructing subway instead of elevated LRT.
"Many countries and regions such as Taipei, Singapore and Hong Kong mostly have underground subways, their cities look beautiful and efficient. There is an argument that subway is more expensive than elevated LRT. In fact, this is a paradox.
"The construction of LRT in an elevated way requires the acquisition of a lot of lands. It will demolish many houses, shops, graves, and it will cost more to provide compensation, " Oh said in a statement.
"Therefore, the construction cost of the elevated LRT may not be lower than a subway. We believe that an elevated LRT will lead to the destruction of the city of Penang. If the LRT is underground, this problem will be avoided."
Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng has assured the state that the federal government may be able to help it with funding if the states apply for an allocation.
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