Approval for Penang LRT expected before the end of the year

KUALA LUMPUR (Aug 11): Approvals from Putrajaya for the Penang's light rail transit (LRT) and the massive state's South Reclamation (PSR) scheme are expected to be obtained before the end of the year, according to a report by The Star based on sources.

The sources told The Star that if everything goes on according to plan, the reclamation work for the three man-made islands would start early next year.

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

The RM8.4bil LRT will form part of the mega RM46bil Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP), which will include the Pan Island Link (PIL) 1, a monorail, cable cars and water taxis.

The PSR is also envisioned by the state government as a solution to the scarcity of land in Penang.

The sources also said that the Project Delivery Partner SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd will call for the tender of the LRT and PSR via a request for proposal exercise early next year. SRS’s will supervise the projects.

“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,” the sources told the English daily.

The report by The Star also said that Scomi Engineering recently proposed a monorail project costing about RM6 billion to the Penang government.

The report also said that a China company has proposed to build a LRT link at less than RM6 billion.

According to news reports yesterday, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow has written a letter of appeal to Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad to seek federal funding for the state's LRT project.

He had written to the federal government on June 29 seeking financial assistance for the project.

Should his request for funding be denied, Penang will instead apply for a low-interest loan from Putrajaya for the project, he said.