PENANG wants the Federal Government to approve the proposed elevated highway from Juru to Sungai Dua near Permatang Pauh which is now regarded as the most congested stretch in the state.
With reports that some two million vehicles are expected in Penang during next week's Hari Raya Adil Fitri festive break, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said that he had notified Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim of the need to upgrade the stretch to prevent bottlenecks in the area.
The stretch just before the Seberang Jaya township is usually jammed during peak office hours but it has now become worse with motorists stuck for up to some 90 minutes during rush hours.
It is the converging point of traffic coming in from Kedah and leaving Penang.
Chow told a press conference that he raised two strategic projects with Anwar during the latter's visit to the state administrative complex in Komtar yesterday.
Both projects are essential to develop Penang into a global cosmopolitan state.
First was the elevated highway while another was the treated water transfer between Perak and Penang, which was already approved in principle.
Chow is seeking federal assistance to expedite the water transfer to overcome the current woes the state is facing in terms of supplying water to some 1.8 million consumers.
As for his advice to road users during the Raya festive break, Chow replied that the majority of the roads will be congested so motorists need to plan their journeys.
"I also do not know why after the pandemic, there is a surge in traffic. We hope that road users will be conscious of this and plan their travels."
Chow said this after launching the two-day Penang International Cat Fiesta at the SPICE Arena here.
He also touched on Anwar's assertion that the absolute poverty rate in Penang can be eradicated by June, saying that he had briefed the prime minister on this matter.
Chow confirmed that the absolute poverty rate can be zero by June, as Penang only has around 150 families in such a category.
He also said that the state has a special economic plan to help the downtrodden.
With the help of the Implementation Coordination Unit (ICU), Chow said that Penang will attain a zero-destitute rate within the next three months. - The Vibes, April 6, 2024.
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