LRT construction to start in 2018, ready by 2024
Construction work on the Penang light railway transit (LRT) project, which is part of the first phase of the island’s Transport Master Plan (TMP), will start in 2018.
According to SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd, the Gamuda Bhd-led project delivery partner (PDP) for the TMP, it will be finalising the cost and alignment of the entire project by year end.
“We expect to start the construction of the LRT in 2018. It will take six years to complete,” SRS Consortium project director Szeto Wai Loong told The Edge Financial Daily in an interview yesterday.
The proposed Bayan Lepas LRT alignment begins from Komtar and ends at the Penang International Airport, running along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway (LCE).
It was previously reported by local media that the construction of the LRT project is scheduled to take off in the first half of 2017.
Szeto said the LRT project, which has a total alignment length of approximately 20 km, is one of the first components to be implemented under the TMP. The other component is the Pan Island Link Highway, which is expected to start construction in 2017.
He pointed out that the LRT project and Pan Island Link Highway were determined as the first components in the delivery sequence of the TMP as they fetch economic internal rates of return of 12.2% and 14% respectively, which are the highest among other components.
He added that the construction of the LRT project is expected to have minimal environment and social impact as the alignment runs past the LCE and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah, which have a wide reserve.
“We are not acquiring a lot of people’s land compared to other [similar] developments,” he added.
Meanwhile, on the plan to reclaim two islands in the south of Penang Island, Szeto said the detailed environmental impact assessment report will be available to the public for review by mid-2016.
The reclaimed land will be fully owned by the Penang government and the land will be auctioned to finance the RM27 billion TMP.
“The public will have a month’s time to comment. It will take us another month to address all the issues that are relevant,” he explained, adding that the consultant had already started various studies that will take six to seven months.
He said various studies will be carried out to determine the marine and environmental impact, sea current and sedimentation impact, and socio-economic impact on the fishermen community in Teluk Kumbar, Permatang Damar Laut and Gertak Sanggul areas.
The report will be prepared by environmental consultant Dr Nik & Associates Sdn Bhd. Szeto said one of the concerns of the reclamation work would be the livelihood of the fishermen in the area as they have to travel farther for fishing activities.
“We haven’t got complaints about environmental issues. So far, we only have political issues,” he said.
Certain parties have questioned the Penang state government for allowing too many reclamation activities on the island, which raised concerns about the impact on the environment and marine life.
Szeto reassured that the chosen site is the best site for reclamation as there is no seagrass in the area.
Previously, the reclamation was said to be carried out in Middle Bank, partly a seagrass bed — a natural marine ecosystem and breeding spot for marine life — located near Gazumbo Island next to the Penang Bridge.
However, environmentalists and civic groups opposed the proposed project on the grounds that it had the country’s second-largest seagrass bed.
The Edge Financial Daily reported on Monday that the estimated cost for reclaiming the two islands measuring about 1,300 acres (526ha) and 2,100 acres respectively to be about RM7 billion to RM8 billion.
The reclamation, identified as a land swap model to finance the TMP, is expected to take off in 2018 once federal and state approvals for the project components are attained.
The proposed TMP would feature a LRT from Komtar to Bayan Lepas, a monorail from Komtar to Air Itam and Tanjung Bungah, e-buses across the North Channel, bus rapid transits on the mainland, and a 20 km Pan Island Link Highway connecting Tanjung Bungah to the Penang International Airport and the LCE with tunnels cutting through the hills.
SRS Consortium, a joint venture in which Gamuda holds 60%, with Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd and Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd holding 20% each, received its appointment letter as the PDP on Aug 14.
Source: TheEdgeProperty.com.my
Why align the LRT track along LCE and Jalan Sultan Azlan Shah where the rich owns large plots of land that can be sold off at huge profits for development in the future?
Why not cater to the ‘now’ where major housing estates are already in from Weld Quay to Jelutong centre, Jalan Perak, Island Glades, Bukit Gambir, Sg. Dua and Relau then lead to Penang International Airport?
The rich keeps getting richer, while the poor keeps getting overlooked.
I guess the reasoning behind was LCE and Jalan sultan Azlan shah is the only place with reserve land to build the LRT track. They cant built the LRT track at already packed places like Jelutong and Gelugor as demolition of peoples property will be needed. Also, there will definitely be a lot of complains from the nearby residents due to the noise pollution, privacy and etc..
The problem is….will the PDP get license from federal? The politic issue is more critical in order for this master plan to go on. As Penangite, I really hope this can happen.
U think so easy meh. U need huge places to allocate for the LRT station and the LRT lane. Don’t tell me gov will build LRT lanes out from no where in the middle of the road right?
Jelutong & Perak road – congested, not much places
Island Glades – residents wont agree, noisy
Bukit Gambir – the lands are not flat, its a mountain
U think so easy arrrr
@Anonymous
We have a bogus consultant on LRT construction in Penang and The Tamarind talking
nonsense.
I recommend they focus more on building the direct access roads/highways to Teluk Kumbar/Balik Pulau from Sungai Ara/Relau via hills (as shown in the picture above) since Teluk Kumbar and Balik Pulau will be the current/future trend for developments, and if more people are to move and stay in Teluk Kumbar and Balik Pulau, an efficient direct access roads/highways to Teluk Kumbar/Balik Pulau should be considered.
I recommend they focus more on building the direct access sea tunnel to the Butterworth/Kepala Batas/Bukit Mertajam from Gurney Drive/Tanjung Bungah via seabed since Butterworth and Bukit Mertajam and Seberang Jaya and Bagan Ajam and Teluk Air Tawar and Kepala Batas will be the current/future trend for developments, and if more people are to move and stay in Butterworth and Kepala Batas and Bukit Mertajam, an efficient direct Tunnel Link/highway to Butterworth/Kepala Batas/Bukit Mertajam should be considered.
Needed to study the whole traffic flow and all the best location to be connected to minimize the cost and maximize the benefit of all the road users.
By having the good flow of LRT , the major problem of traffic jam can be solved. No point of building more and more road but the number of vehicles on the road keep on increasing.