Penang projects get a boost
THE Penang Yang di-Pertua Negri Tun Abdul Rahman Abbas has called for support for the four major infrastructure projects worth RM6.3bil that was proposed by the state government.
He said there was a need to upgrade the road infrastructure in Penang to be on par with developed countries.
“Thus, the state’s intention to implement the RM6.3bil project to resolve traffic issues should be supported,” he said yesterday in his speech when opening the first sitting of the first term of 13th Penang State Legislative Assembly.
The project comprises a 4.2km bypass connecting Gurney Drive to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, a 4.6km bypass connecting the expressway to Air Itam, a 12km paired road between Tanjung Bungah and Teluk Bahang and a 6.5km undersea tunnel connecting Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam.
The tunnel project had however come under fire from some non-governmental organisations and politicians who feared that it would bring negative environmental and economic impacts.
Abdul Rahman said a feasibility study and Detailed Environmental Impact Assessment would be carried out to ensure that the projects are safe for implementation and can be completed well.
On power supply, he said Tenaga Nasional Berhad (TNB) would build a RM3bil power plant in Prai which would be completed in 2016.
He said that from 2015 to 2018, the utility company aimed to increase the distribution of electricity in the state with the construction of eight 842 megawatt main intake substations at a cost of RM589.5mil.
Abdul Rahman also said the state government had identified seven sites statewide for its affordable housing projects.
He said there would be a total of 22,172 units, of which 3,152 units would be built on the island and the rest on the mainland.
He said more than 19,000 people had registered their interest to purchase units at two projects – in Jalan S.P. Chelliah where 1,900 units will be built and Bandar Cassia in Batu Kawan which will have 520 units.
On healthcare, Abdul Rahman said the state was setting up dialysis centres in Balik Pulau and Seberang Jaya at a total cost of RM4mil to provide subsidised treatment for poor patients.
“The state hopes to start operating the centres by the end of the year,” he added.
In his speech that lasted close to an hour, Abdul Rahman also extended his condolences to the family of victims who died in the second Penang bridge ramp collapse on June 6 and freak storm on June 13.
Other issues he touched on included investments, traffic and transportation management, tourism, agriculture, welfare, sports, youth, women’s development and Islamic matters.
Source: StarProperty.my
Another wow factor to boost up penang properties sales..
Bravo State Gov
. The Federal Gov is really shortsighted and selfish for opposing this tunnel so strongly when it will bring so much economic prosperity and ease the travelling time headache of it’s supporters in the areas of Penaga, Kepala Batas and Telok Air Tawar. All the wonderful facilities of the northern part of the island like international schools and shopping and cinemas will be accessible to these areas in the future, The Federal Gov has absolutely no basis for their objections except childish and short term narrow minded partisan bickering . Great to see the State Gov is thinking ahead about the next 30 years and planning for the Entire State and not just the island. The tunnel will hopefully also ease the so called land scarcity on the island that the developers talk so much about, although I bet the developers will in the future also spin a fable about land scarcity on the mainland ! 😉
While upgrading roads are important, Penang needs urgently is a well connected LRT system transportation as the Island is small. Undersea tunnel is not necessary at the moment.
@Dan Tan
Undersea tunnel very necessary for me and mainland peoples! Pls step in people shoes if you were them staying butterworth
People from the neglected other half of Penang need to make their voices heard now on this issue, because as demonstrated above, as far as all these ” islander “s are concerned , the less connectivity to the island , the better ! That way the 80% price premium for living on the island will stay intact ! And isn’t it a bit unfair that the island has all these NGOs to jump on the case at a moments notice to ” Protect ” the island?
Third bridge or undersea channel is needed. Dont listen to those NGOs bullshit. Now 2 bridges are all in south, north side need another traffic channel. Do you guys ever been to Macau or not? Dam small Macau even got 3 bridges, and they are just next to each others. Are those Macaus people protest with reason that more bridges will bring more traffic into Taipa or Macau peninsula?
@ezalor
What about Macau public transport? An extra bridge will only bring more cars into the island , which is good, but the fact is does our road capable of handling such volume of cars coming in? We are unique is the sense that our local council will act selectively on illegal stalls and illegal parking, which contributes to jam. Look around bayan lepas area, how many illegal stalls are allowed to mushroom since 2008. And the customer that went to this stallspark illegally which contributes to massive jam. I can give you one very good example, that is the illegal thai stalls at Sg Nibong traffic light. Their customer park at the sideways from 7pm-11pm, thus blocking one road which turns to bayan lepas roundabout. And, residence there have been complaining for years.
@pgkia
agreed.
During peak hour in the morning as well, lorries park to have breakfast blocked the lane for turning right.
I think after the UMNo building and 2nd bridge collapsed incident, before building any road, bridge etc, is better to reexamine whether we have enough trained personel to support the accident/emergency disaster.
I support , but really worry of the tunnel thing, as it requires very high skill and safety to do it. But whether they have enough resources to support the disaster plan.
Since the 2 incident, i feel worry if there is heavy rain and wind.
@pgkia
Macau public transport normal only niah, just buses. And it does not seem any advance compare to Penang. Here Penang people when talk about public transport, they sure talk about MRT, LRT this kind of fancy transportation, seem like huge fans for public transport, but many of them I bet even haven’t ride any public bus on road once per year, but keep asking why no LRT, why no MRT. It is like before can walk already wanna to fly. Regarding illegal parking issue, that’s totally 100% nothing to do with third bridge/underground tunnel.
I think LRT or MRT in Penang island is a good direction, as we can see what happen in Singapore, which is also an island and with even higher population, their MRT is really works in helping people transportation issue. I believe MRT/LRT will be more proper public transport compared to current public bus system, hence it would attract more people to use it. With this, it is potentially could reduce the cars quantity on the road and improve the road traffic, illegal parking, and etc issue direct or indirectly.
Hope to see LRT project being initiated soon!
Joe,
Strongly agree with you. We should reduce cars on roads. If existing policies continue, people won’t change their old habits of driving where ever they go. An integrated plan has to be drawn up, not only building LRTs. MPPP/MPSP need to centralize developments around rail stations to make rail travelling comfortable and convenient. Once people realize how much time/money they can save and how comfortable it is, everything else will take care of itself.
“Gurney drive coastal area now is suffering from a great amount of siltation problem, up to the point where no more sea water most of the time on its mudflat , and the stench phewww .”
You are right! Marina Bay just next to the river mouth. So smelly especially Block B facing Gurney Drive. I just went to visit my friend last weekend and boy its smelly. But can’t say in front of him.
those disagree tunnel to build better come to stay in nothern region.
Traffic from there to pg bridge is really jam especially across the seberang jaya highway.
Coz Island’s traffic is so congested and property price is so expensive, it is wise for state gov to expand more infrastructures, development and commercial activities in mainland at areas after the undersea tunnel especially sg puyu, bagan ajam, teluk air tawar, sungai dua, etc. This will move more young people from island to mainland due to more affordable housing price. If there are more jobs creation in the mainland … no mainland people will really want to go to work in island and caught in trafficto and fro office every day.
Tunnel is a must. It is part and parcel of development.
In the meantime LRT is also important.
Said so many times, Federal build the LRT and the state government build the 4 Highways and tunnel. Then, it is a WIN-WIN Situation for the rakyat.
Bodoh and senile people only protest for development. All development is for Rakyat, not for certain individual interest only…..
If tunnel project proposed by Federal i think many sound here turn to negative. am I right?
Lrt…. I wander how lrt can look beautiful in the city, island n crossing bridge….