The approvals from the federal authorities for the RM8.4bil Bayan Lepas light rail transit (LRT) and the massive Penang South Reclamation (PSR) scheme on the southern coast of the island are expected to be obtained before the end of the year.

Sources told The Star that the approvals would be from the Department of Environment, the federal regulator overseeing Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), and the Transport Ministry.

The sources said if everything goes on as scheduled, the reclamation project for the three man-made islands would start early next year.

“The LRT project might begin in January 2020,” they said.

The LRT, together with a monorail, cable cars and water taxis, is part of the state government’s RM46bil Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

It will begin from Komtar in the northeast corner of the island and pass through Jelutong, Gelugor, Bayan Lepas and Penang International Airport before ending at the proposed PSR development comprising three man-made islands totalling 1,800ha near Teluk Kumbar.

It is expected to provide a fast route to the airport and will traverse densely populated residential, commercial and industrial areas.

There are 27 LRT stations along the alignment, with the maintenance depot located on the first island that is to be reclaimed on the island’s south coast.

The alignment also factors in interchanges with future LRT, Sky Cab and monorail lines that are being planned, including one that will cross the channel to connect Gelugor on the island with the Penang Sentral transport hub in mainland Butterworth. The success of the PTMP depends on funding from property development on the PSR scheme.

The Pan Island Link 1 is another component which came to light recently as its Detailed EIA was on display at 10 locations in Putrajaya, Kuala Lumpur and Penang until yesterday.

The proposed 19.5km highway links Gurney Drive to the Penang International Airport.

SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd, the Project Delivery Partner (PDP), will call for the tender of the LRT and PSR via a Request for Proposal (RFP) exercise early next year, the sources said.

SRS’s role is to supervise the projects until their completion and scale down the cost.

It is learnt that there are currently six or seven companies interested in carrying out the LRT project and the reclamation work for the islands.

“SRS will scale down the cost of the urban rail transport link connecting Komtar and Bayan Lepas, and also consider alternative proposals such as a monorail,” said sources.

It is learnt that Scomi Engineering has recently proposed a monorail project costing about RM6bil, to the state government.

A China company has also proposed to build a LRT link costing less than RM6bil.

On the three man-made islands, it is said that more than RM4bil would be spent on the reclamation.

“The cost is estimated to be over RM4bil because there will be a need to construct a dam and three power plants for the islands.

“One of the islands will be used for indus­trial activities. There will be industrial lots developed for sale to overseas and local investors to generate funds for the urban rail transport link.

“The other two islands will be used for building commercial and residential properties,” sources explained, adding that about RM17bil, which includes the cost for the LRT and PIL 1, has been approved.

On the viability of trams as an alternative to LRT, the sources said the move would require relocating underground sewage infrastructure, power and telecommunications cables.

“They have to be relocated because laying the rails for trams involves a lot of costly road digging. The LRT is constructed on an elevated platform and does not involve digging into the ground.

“Furthermore, the roads in Penang are narrow, so using trams with other vehicles on the same road could cause accidents,” a source added.

SRS Consortium, a 60:20:20 joint venture involving Gamuda Bhd, Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd and Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd, was appointed by the Penang government as the PDP for the implementation of the PTMP.

Meanwhile, Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he has written a letter to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad on June 29 to seek funds for the LRT project.

“We have yet to receive a reply.

“If the South island reclamation projects are not carried out, the state has no choice but to seek federal funds for the LRT,” he said during his speech at the state assembly yesterday.

Chow had earlier said the major components of PTMP would be fully funded by revenues generated from the sale of reclaimed land of the PSR project.

He said the fully funded nature of the components – the LRT and the PIL 1 – was unlike any other mega infrastructure projects currently being critically reviewed by the Council of Eminent Persons.

The SRS Consortium was concluded to have the best overall proposal among six local and international bidders, which were evaluated based on qualities such as transport master plan proposal, delivery track record, financial standing and funding/business models.

Source: TheStar.com.my

Prins Bay, a proposed beachfront high-end serviced suites, hotel and retail lots by Prinsiptek Corporation Bhd. in Batu Ferringhi, Penang. It is strategically located along Jalan Batu Ferringhi, neighboring with several popular hotels, namely Lone Pine Hotel, Golden Sands Resort, Holiday Inn Resort and a few others.

This development comprises a 8-storey building with car parking lots located at sub-basement, offering a mix of residential and commercial units:

• Serviced suites (134 units)
• Hotel (142 rooms)
• Retail lots (2 unit)

The project is still pending for approval. More details to be available upon official launch.

Project Name: Prins Bay (to be confirmed)
Location : Batu Ferringhi
Property Type : Serviced residence & hotel
Built-up Size: (to be confirmed)
Total Units: 134 (serviced suite), 2 (retail)
Indicative Price: (to be confirmed)
Developer : Prinsiptek Properties Sdn. Bhd.
Tentative Launch: 2021

Location Map:

Source: TheStar

It will take about five years to drill a tunnel from the hill face behind Kek Lok Si Temple to Paya Terubong.

Miners will drill into the hill “metre by metre” to ensure minimum impact to the environment and soil structure, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.

“They will make small, controlled charges and shape the tunnel as they go. It’s not like quarry blasts,” he said.

Szeto Wai Loong, the project director of SRS Consortium, which is the project delivery partner of the Penang Transport Master Plan, explained that the technique is called chemical blasting.

“There will be no risk to any structures above ground as there is much less smoke and vibration. But it’s much more expensive,” he said in a press conference on Tuesday.

Asked if there was a way to keep the Pan Island Link (PIL) 1 section near Kek Lok Si and the Air Itam Dam completely underground, Szeto said that was impossible because of the valley from the dam to the old Ayer Itam town.

The current proposed alignment will see a six-lane tunnel from Penang City Park ending on one side of this valley, a 300m elevated highway across the valley and another tunnel created behind the 125-year-old monastery leading to Paya Terubong.

The work will involve the transportation of thousands of tonnes of excavated rubble through Jalan Balik Pulau, the steep and winding road that is the only way to Kek Lok Si and the Air Itam Dam.

Szeto said the planners were keenly aware of the challenges of transporting the rubble, adding: “We will do our best not to disrupt people’s lives. This includes working at night and not blocking the roads during peak hours.”

During the press conference, Chow was asked about the objection from some local NGO members, who argued that it was not worth the cost and effort just to be able to drive from Gurney Drive to the airport in 15 minutes.

“It may take just 15 minutes for one person. Multiply that by 1.6 million Penangites and six million tourists.

“How many man-hours lost in traffic congestion will Penang be able to save with PIL 1? How much more productivity will we gain from this?” Chow asked.

Source: TheStar.com.my

The first phase of Penang Sentral in Bagan Dalam is expected to open in October.

Modeled on Kuala Lumpur Sentral, the RM2.7bil development stands 10 storeys high and overlooks George Town on the island.

Built on 12.8ha of land, the hub is equipped with shops, ticketing counters and food outlets and will link bus and taxi services to the Butterworth KTM train station and Pengkalan Sultan Abdul Halim ferry terminal.

The Star reports that Bagan Dalam assemblyman M. Satees said work on the first phase of the project was in its final lap and awaiting the Certificate of Comple­tion and Compliance (CCC).

“We were informed that the building will start operating in October but there has been nothing official yet.

“The state is looking forward to its opening to ease traffic congestion in areas surrounding the terminal. Buses, taxis and ride-hailing services will have their designated areas in the terminal,” he said.

In May, it was reported that the hub will accomodate 200,000 daily passengers and is equipped with 900 parking lots.

It includes an information centre, connectivity to the ferry terminal and train station, and self-service ticketing kiosks.

The Star reports that the project includes commercial and residential components. There is a shopping complex, three 36-storey office blocks and a 35-storey hotel.

The daily reports that Penang Sentral amongst Northern Corridor Economic Region projects unveiled in August 2007 by then prime minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi.

Land acquisition issues had plagued the project, resulting in delays.

Source: EdgeProp.my

The reclamation of three islands to finance the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) will add value to the state’s investments, said Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow (PH-Padang Kota).

Chow said the three proposed islands, on the south of Penang island, went beyond improving the state’s transport system as it would significantly boost the state’s economy by beefing up its land bank.

“It was initially thought if the Federal Government stepped in to help finance its transportation projects, the three islands need not be reclaimed.

“(But) the three islands were needed so that the existing Penang airport can have its runway expanded, besides offering a larger area for industries to grow and boosting the state’s land bank,” said Chow.

“We have asked the Federal Government repeatedly if they can help with our transport projects. If they can help, great, but in reality, we are short of land.

“The Penang South Reclamation (PSR) scheme is good value for our industrial zone expansion. It is for Penang’s future development,” he said in response to Lee Khai Loon’s (PH-Machang Bubok) call to review the project over climate change concerns during the state assembly today (Aug 6).

PTMP, which is the state government’s multi-billion ringgit public transport project involving LRT, monorail, cable cars and water taxis, depends on funding from property development on a proposed trio of man-made islands known as the PSR scheme.

The reclaimed islands will have a total land area of 1,800ha.

Source: TheStar.com.my