Transport Ministry and SPAD agree to Penang’s LRT proposal
Penang CM, Y.A.B. Mr. Chow Kon Yeow said the Ministry of Transport and SPAD has agreed with the State Government’s proposal to build the Light Rail Transit (LRT) system from George Town to Bayan Lepas.
He said the agreement was reached at a meeting with Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook and SPAD’s representative on Sept 18 in Putrajaya.
“It was a fruitful meeting. We (the State Government) can now take another step forward as the LRT proposal has been accepted by the Minister and SPAD.
“At the meeting, the State Government also pointed out that the LRT system is more suitable for Penang than the tram as proposed by SPAD recently,” he told a media conference after attending a ceremony near the Millennium Hall this morning.
The explanation arose following the earlier statement by Transport Minister who reportedly said that the LRT system might not be an ideal choice for Penang, based on SPAD’s research results.
However, Kon Yeow said there are still technical issues to be addressed such as the depot, which will serve as the final station for the LRT project
The initial location for the depot was the reclaimed coastal area of Permatang Damar Laut, but SPAD later proposed it be moved inland just after the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas, as reclamation work has yet to start.
Chow said a final report on the planned changes will be submitted soon.
Source: Buletin Utama (Malay version)
Now, shall see how the NGOs fight back ?
ya expect “great things” from Penang’s notorious NGOs, led by that Dr Lim Mah Hui who almost single-handedly destroyed George Town’s UNESCO heritage status..
What did he do?
Penang famous for its huge numbers of traffic lights. If they build tram, can’t avoid the traffic lights right? Unless the tram can fly.
@TT
The train tracks are above the traffic lights..Like the flyover…It’s built like this in everywhere
@Oh nice
Whatever the Penang gov can keep boasting to build this or that, it’s not going to happen. Simply tell the people of Penang that Penang has no money lah !
Till the NGOs turn up
Finally it’s coming!! Can’t wait for it! Penang will be a great city soon! Dear NGOs don’t kkcc..
how the LRT track gonna be? elevated?
@Let’s talk
Now, everyone claims to be from NGOs. Just to make himself/herself famous ? “Si Bei Ai Bin”.
similar news published for several times… wait and wait…
Congrats to those who were crying for LRT. I hope you make full use of it and use it daily when it is ready.
I for one, know i probably won’t be using it on a daily basis to work for a few reasons. Firstly the LRT does not pass close enough to where i live. To actually use it i would need to take a bus to the LRT station. Get off near my workplace. Then take another bus to my office. Secondly, i have worked overseas before and commuted to work on a daily basis. I have no illusions about the ‘convenience’ of commuting daily. The hot days when you have to walk and wait under the sweltering sun for the bus. Or the rainy days when you have to get to the bus stop and there is no shelter or avoiding muddy puddles due to no proper sidewalks. This is why Singapore has to impose high toll/ERP charges for their highways and sky high prices for cars despite their fantastic MRT system. If there is no significant financial or time benefit commuting, not many people are going to bother to commute.
In order for the LRT to be sustainable many people are going to need to use it. Good luck, if you think only foreigners and tourists are enough to sustain its operations. Just a hint, Singapore’s MRT would be loss making every year if it relied only on ticket sales alone. The MRT only covers its cost of operations from rental income from retail shoplots at its stations as well as advertising spaces. This is also true of Hong Kongs MTR. It is not easy to run a profitable elevated rail line.
So for those who fought so hard for the LRT, i hope you will work hard to make the LRT a success.
you will use it one day….when a gantry for toll is installed in front of ur house…
ppl like u will just want everything right in front of ur house….u might as well let ur limbs degenerate
@noheritz
Actually i would be very happy if the Penang govt. quickly install toll gantry’s at all major roads. Trust me, i will not complain. But i suspect ppl like you will definitely kao pek kao bu if Penang govt. were to do so that’s why they dare not implement.
One of the suggestions for funding the PTMP in the ORIGINAL 2013 Halcrow PTMP was to increase parking fees or to introduce tolls. The money would be used to fund the PTMP as well as encourage more ppl to take public transport. And actually i FULLY support this idea.
You have completely missed my point that i was making. I will re-word it for your sake: “Unless there is significant financial or time benefit, people will not take the LRT”. But maybe i am wrong. So for those who support LRT, no need talk big now. When the LRT is ready please do commute everyday to and from work. Don’t later give excuses like hot or rain or troublesome. OK?