GEORGE TOWN – Penang may resort to building its light railway transit (LRT) lines separately if the Penang South Islands (PSI) project does not materialise.
Infrastructure and Transportation Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari told the state assembly that Penang may call for bids to build the LRT lines to overcome traffic congestion.
An approval by relevant authorities to carry out the project was rescinded by environmental regulators after fishermen filed for an appeal in September.
The 19km LRT project with 30 stations is expected to cost RM8.5 billion.
Zairil said the state government is studying the possibility to call for a request for proposal next year, inviting companies and consortiums to bid for the LRT project if the authorities fail to approve the reclamation project.
“The study is being conducted and a decision on the matter will be made after the outcome of the study.
“The state is committed to the PSI project, the Pan Island Link 1 Highway and the Penang Transport Master Plan,” Zairil said in reply to a supplementary question by Goh Choon Aik (Bukit Tambun-PH) who questioned the state’s plans on the LRT project if PSI fails to take off.
Zairil said the PSI approval snag was caused by technicalities involving the state’s structure plan.
“The state plans to file a judicial review over the withdrawal of approval, and, at the same time, will submit a new proposal for approval from the Environment Department.”
Dr Afif Bahardin (Seberang Jaya-PN) asked whether there is a risk of the state losing the PSI gambit altogether if it files a fresh application.
Zairil said the fresh application is very much similar to what was submitted earlier, with the difference being the reclamation sequence of the three islands. – The Vibes, December 1, 2021
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