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THERE is room for the Mutiara Light Rail Transit (LRT) to be expanded to two additional lines from the present one, which is under construction.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that the LRT has two additional components to cover the entire state, but for now, it is important to ensure the main one is completed first.
"There are two more lines. It is listed under (our) Penang Transport Masterplan. It is costly though."
The LRT line is now costing around RM3 billion.
Under the ownership of the Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Corporation, the main line runs for 29.5km from the now-under-reclamation Silicon Island onwards to the Komtar administrative complex in George Town.
It has 22 station stops, and Sungai Nibong stopover has been upgraded to be elevated as the country's first Public Transport-Oriented Development (TOD) township with socio - economic amenities present.
The LRT has caused several traffic diversions to happen now, complicating an already congested road network here.
To this, Chow said that it is up to his successor to determine if the state requires the additional two LRT lines here.
He said this when presenting the state's eighth-year report card on his visionary Penang2030 development masterplan at the Holiday Inn & Suites in Prai.
He gave his state administration a 70 per cent pass rating for the work they have undertaken amidst severe challenges such as the pandemic, global economic uncertainties, US-imposed tariffs, supply chain woes and now the escalating regional conflicts.
The state must continue strengthening the foundations laid over the past eight years and move forward with the Penang2030 vision, said Chow.
“Seventy per cent is my standard answer,” Chow said when asked to rate himself and his administration over the past eight years.
The masterplan, following an early engagement exercise in 2019, was anchored by four foundational themes and 16 strategic initiatives aimed at making Penang a more competitive, liveable and sustainable state.
Among the key foundations laid under Penang2030 are major infrastructure, digitalisation, environmental resilience, heritage and economic development initiatives.
He stressed the digitalisation pace of the state with special focus on children and senior citizens, while a big part of his two-hour presentation of the state's achievements was devoted to infrastructure.
Chow highlighted the ongoing expansion of Penang International Airport, which is expected to increase its capacity to about 12 million passengers annually, and the LRT.
Others named are the Juru-Sungai Dua elevated highway, the Penang Hill Cable Car Project and the Silicon Island.
Such economic stimulus plans were aimed at strengthening the state’s connectivity, tourism appeal and growth capacity. - September 14, 2026.
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