SEBERANG JAYA: The proposed cross channel light rail transit (LRT) link, connecting Penang island and Butterworth, would be finalised soon, said Transport Minister Anthony Loke.
Speaking to newsmen, Loke said that he had a meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim about the LRT project yesterday.
"The prime minister has instructed us to prepare the 'Cabinet Ministers' memorandum to bring the matter to cabinet for approval on its implementation," he told newsmen here today when asked about the progress of the LRT project.
During a visit to the state in May, Anwar said that the federal government had agreed to provide additional funds to the Penang government to expedite the development of the LRT project in the state.
He acknowledged that traffic congestion had been a longstanding issue in Penang and that the state was in need of a LRT system as a solution.
Following that, the LRT alignment would now be from Bayan Lepas to Komtar to Tanjung Bungah, Air Itam to Butterworth to Kepala Batas and to Simpang Ampat.
During the state legislative assembly sitting last November, the state government had said that it was bullish that the project would be a reality under Anwar's watch.
State Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the state's confidence stemmed from the fact that Anwar himself had come to Penang in May last year to announce that the federal government would fund the much-awaited project.
He said this was followed by a working visit by Loke and the series of discussions between the Penang government and MRT Corp.