Air Itam – Tun Dr LCE Expressway bypass

The proposed projects under the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) are on track, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said yesterday.

“I have committed to the people of Penang that whenever there is a new milestone achieved, I will meet the press to make the announcement.

“The people have been informed about the signing of the project delivery partner (PDP) master agreement for the PTMP with SRS Consortium on July 1.

“The SRS Consortium will be proposing the financial architecture plan for the PTMP to the Penang government soon.

“The financial architecture plan will enable us to choose the most viable financial structure for us to implement the projects.

“The Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project is the financing model for the Bayan Lepas LRT (BL LRT) project and the Pan Island Link (PIL) projects,” Chow explained during the ‘Penang in 10 years time’ talk show, hosted by Segambut MP Hannah Yeoh last night (Aug 3).

It was reported that the three main components of the PTMP are the BL LRT, the Pan Island Link (PIL1 and PIL2A) highways and the PSR. It was also reported that the estimated cost of the PTMP projects was RM46 billion.

Chow said that the state would ensure that the projects under the PTMP are carried out the best way possible.

“The projects under the PTMP involved several billions of ringgit. If they are not financed by the Federal Government, the state would not be able to find such financial capability to implement the projects.

“We have decided on implementing the PSR to ensure that we are able to carry out projects for the benefit of the people although we are not part of the Federal Government.

“The sale of the land from the reclamation will be used to finance the infrastructure projects,” he said.

He also spoke about the three major roads and the Penang Undersea Tunnel project.

“Works on one of the three major road projects (Package Two), which is the 5.7km Bandar Baru Air Itam – Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass, have started,” he said.

The RM6.3 billion project will comprise of the Bandar Baru Air Itam – Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass, the Tanjung Bungah – Teluk Bahang bypass, the Gurney Drive – Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass and the Gurney Drive – Bagan Ajam undersea tunnel.

Chow said that the state was awaiting the feasibility study of the undersea tunnel to be completed before making a decision whether to carry on with the project or otherwise.

He said that in order to continue to grow the state’s economy, the industry needs to be supported by better infrastructure.

“We need infrastructure to uplift the economy and all these infrastructure are in line with the Penang2030 vision of ‘A Family-Focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation’.

“We have incorporated the projects in our vision. We need to invest in the built environment to improve resilience, as stated in one of the four themes of the Penang2030 vision.”

Chow said: “The development projects have attracted a lot of attention from the non-governmental organisations (NGOs). However, there are also those who feel that the sooner these projects are implemented, the better it is for the state to resolve its traffic congestion problems.”

He added that Penang was known for its (traffic) congestion issues among the visitors, besides its reputation as a food paradise.

Source: Buletin Mutiara