GEORGE TOWN: The state government is leaving it to the Federal Government to decide whether to review the components of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) project.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said this was because the proposal for the the PTMP light rail transit (LRT) project was with Putrajaya.
He said PTMP project delivery partner SRS Consortium would work with federal agencies and supply additional details as needed.
“We will wait for the Federal Government to decide whether such infrastructure projects should be reviewed or put on hold,” he said in response to the Consumers Association of Penang’s call yesterday for the state’s mega projects to be reviewed.
The PTMP is a state government-initiated project, which features an undersea tunnel linking the island to the mainland, highways, LRT, monorail, as well as extensive bus connectivity on both the island and mainland.
In the middle last year, it was estimated the PTMP project would cost about RM46 billion.
The state government plans to reclaim three man-made islands to fund it.
Chow said the state government had obtained approval for the three paired roads project.
“The Air Itam to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway project is almost ready for implementation,” he said.
“However, we have to wait at least one year to address other issues. Hopefully, it will not have to be reviewed.”
However, he urged the Federal Government to review the Sungai Pinang Basin Flood Mitigation project so that it could be fast tracked.
“Yes it should be reviewed but for immediate implementation, not review to stop it.
”The project is long overdue... about 18 years.
“We can expect it to be implemented in 18 months as the design for the project has to be completed first.”
He made these comments after launching the RM9.3 million Bukit Dumbar Reservoir here today.
The reservoir will benefit about 315,000 people and thousands of businesses in the south of the island.