Penang reviewing LRT project funding: exco

GEORGE TOWN – Penang has decided to review the funding arrangement for the contentious LRT mega project following the change in power at Putrajaya, which is now under the Pakatan Harapan-led unity administration. 

The project which is now known as the Bayan Lepas LRT was planned to run between an interchange terminal at Komtar on the island’s north-east and the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas in the south-east. 

State executive councillor Zairil Khir Johari, who oversees the infrastructure and transport portfolio, said that the state has decided to renew discussions with the federal government to review funding on the project. 

“Plans change when circumstances change. So now with a friendly federal government, we hope to get some assistance,” he was reported as saying by Malay Mail today. 

The process, which is now at the pre-qualification stage, has several companies shortlisted, he said. The pre-qualification registration exercise was held between July 25 and August 19 last year. 

The state is hoping to get federal funding for the RM10 billion project. 

He was quoted as saying that all major urban rail projects are funded by the federal side, so this project should also be federally funded. 

Penang has been pushing for an LRT alongside additional highways to alleviate worsening traffic congestions – which is now almost a daily factor for road commuters. 

The previous federal administration led by Perikatan Nasional (PN) had cancelled a federal guarantee for a RM2 billion loan application for Penang in 2020. 

Segments of civil society in Penang are insisting that the state should focus on sustainable public transport rather than building more roads or the LRT, citing that the passenger demand may wane in view that the population base is only about 1.8 million in the state with less than half on the island. Furthermore, the majority of households are car owners. 

According to a parliamentary reply by the Transport Ministry to an oral question by Bagan MP Lim Guan Eng, the former finance minister,  the final LRT scheme approval could not be issued as it is pending approval of the Environmental Impact Assessment for the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project. 

This is because a portion of the LRT line is on one of the reclaimed islands in the PSR. 

The PSR project was introduced in 2015, as part of efforts to underwrite the mammoth Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) of which the LRT component is an integral part of the long - term project. 

Currently, the visible PTMP project taking place is the land clearing for the elevated road bypass linking Air Itam to the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. 

The RM851 million 6km bypass is expected to be completed in 2025. 

Among the distinctive features of the underpass are that some parts will be elevated, and it will have three short-distance twin land tunnels. The project is undertaken by the Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd. 

It is part of the three road packages underpinned by the proposed undersea tunnel linking Gurney Drive on the island with Bagan Ajam on the mainland. – The Vibes, March 30, 2023