Chow hopes PTMP will be tabled to cabinet in the shortest time possible





GEORGE TOWN, May 14 (Bernama) -- The new Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow hoped that the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) project will be tabled to the Cabinet in the shortest time possible.

He said under the PTMP, there were three priority projects that include a light-rail transit (LRT) project, Penang Island Link (PIL) and Penang South Reclamation (PSR).

Commenting on the progress of these three priority projects, he said for the LRT, the state government had already submitted to the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) since March 2016, while for the PIL they would complete the studies required and only waiting for submission for the environment impact assessment (EIA) approval.

"For the PSR, it is now being evaluated by technical committee of the National Physical Planning Council. We will follow up on this. This will take some time but we want to also ensure the delivery partners will focus on completing all the studies.

"In these 100 days we want to look at pushing it further. We may not get approval in these 100 days but we want to push further so that everything can be ready within these 100 days.

"So that when it is tabled before the federal agency too maybe the Cabinet and National Physical Planning Council, everything will be in order at the technical level for the National Physical Planning committee to deliberate on it,"" he told a press conference, here today.

When asked on the reclamation and three man-made islands, Chow said the islands' project might be retained.

He said the island would create 4,000 hectares of land and boost Penang's economy, especially the Bayan Lepas Industrial Zone.

"We will definitely look at it in that way not merely as financing model but also for the future growth of Penang," he said.

As for the undersea tunnel and three main roads project, Chow said he would call the contractors, Zenith Consortium, to brief him on the current status.

"I think since we also now have the federal government on our side, we will definitely pursue this matter and in fact we are looking at early implementation of two highway projects (Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway-Air Itam and Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang) because they have already secured the EIA approval.

"...not the third road project (Jalan Pangkor-Gurney Drive junction to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway) and not the tunnel project yet," he said.

-- BERNAMA