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Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the federal government would provide additional funds to expedite the construction of the Penang LRT project.
The project is one of the main components of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), a long-term strategy to overcome the problem of traffic congestion in the state. The Penang government’s plan is to connect Bayan Lepas and Komtar.
Fed gov’s decision to implement the Penang LRT project
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim announced that the federal government would allocate funds to expedite the implementation of the Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) project during the Jelajah Rumah Terbuka Madani.
According to the Prime Minister, the previous federal government had not provided enough funds for several years, particularly for urgent infrastructure development in Penang.
The Prime Minister added that he had held discussions with the Minister of Transport and would also meet with the state government to find a suitable approach to bear the high cost of LRT construction.
Minister affirms agreement to fund LRT project
Transport Minister Anthony Loke Siew Fook confirmed that the federal government had agreed to fund the Penang LRT project. He noted that the decision would alleviate the financial burden of the Penang government, which previously struggled to secure funds for the project.
Loke also affirmed that the Federal Government would only be involved in the implementation of the LRT project in Penang and not the Penang South Islands (PSI). The Transport Minister stated that the Federal Government agreed that the Komtar-Bayan Lepas LRT project was the state’s priority and that it would be the first alignment.
LRT Project to combat traffic congestion in Penang
The Penang LRT project aims to ease traffic congestion in Penang, where the problem has worsened over the years. The PTMP includes a long-term strategy to address the issue. The LRT project is expected to connect Bayan Lepas and Komtar, providing a modern and efficient public transportation system for Penangites.
Transport Minister Anthony Loke stressed that the Federal Government would only use reports done by the state government as reference. He also stated that the Federal Government was not tied to any report and would view and finalize the detailed alignment and implementation according to the Federal’s consideration.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow expressed his gratitude for the Penang LRT project, calling it the best 2023 Hari Raya gift for Penang. The Penang government had previously presented two priority projects to the Prime Minister, including the Komtar-Bayan Lepas LRT and the Sungai Tiram Flood Mitigation Project.
Chow added that the proposed LRT project had received conditional approval due to its LRT depot on Silicon Island, which has not yet been reclaimed. The Chief Minister stated that the Penang government would work together with the Federal Government to ensure the success of the LRT project.
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