KELANTAN is looking at an exciting future, especially in the transport and communication sectors, with several projects by the Federal Government in the pipeline.
Several major projects are being carried out, and once completed, Kelantan will be more accessible to those wanting to return to their hometowns during the holidays and festive seasons, and, of course, visitors desiring to savour the delights of the state, dubbed the “Cradle of Malay Culture”.
The icing on the cake is none other than the East Coast Rail Link (ECRL), launched by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak last week. The 688km rail line from Gombak, Selangor, to Kota Baru, Kelantan, has been described as a “game-changer” that will have a tremendous effect on the economy and lives of millions of people, especially those in the east coast of the peninsula.
The ECRL, which will pass through Pahang and Terengganu before ending in Kelantan, will cost RM55 billion and construction is expected to start later this year.
The rail line, operational in 2024, will have stations in Tok Bali and Jelawat besides Kota Baru. The travel time by road between the east and west coasts will be halved by four hours compared with eight to 10 hours. The train service is expected to be popular with people in the state, as even now Keretapi Tanah Melayu Bhd services have received good response, especially during the festive seasons. Most motorists would be tempted to ditch their cars if the train service is as efficient as promised.
One road project that has not received wide publicity but is known to frequent travellers between Kuala Lumpur and Kelantan is the Central Spine Road (CSR) project. The 390km link, estimated to cost RM6.6 billion, starts in Kuala Pilah, Negri Sembilan, but the main stretches will be between Bentong, Pahang, and Kuala Krai, Kelantan.
Several kilometres of the link have been completed and are being used by travellers. This includes the Bentong Bypass, which allows motorists to head to Raub without having to drive through Bentong town.
Transport Minister and Bentong member of parliament Datuk Seri Liow Tiong Lai, during the launch of the 28km stretch in January, has said the project offers road users an alternative route to the east coast.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof has said the CSR is a dual-carriageway that follows the Public Works Department’s R5 specifications (federal roads or highways with limited access control and speed limits of up to 90kph). He says the link will boost the economy of the east coast as the movement of goods and services, and people will become more efficient and safer. Fadillah adds that 15 per cent of the project has been completed with 25 per cent expected to be finished by 2020. The project will make travelling to the east coast easier, more comfortable and, most importantly, toll-free.
Another project that will ease travel to Kelantan, especially for Johor folk, is the East Coast Highway Phase Two, which stretches along the borders of Pahang and Terengganu. Although the highway is mainly located in Terengganu, all 184km of it, it makes travelling easier and faster for those heading to Kota Baru and beyond. Reports that the highway will be expanded to Besut, along the border of Kelantan, and probably up to Tumpat, have been welcomed by all.
Nearer to home, the Kota Baru-Kuala Krai Highway is in progress with the first phase completed between Kota Baru and Kadok, covering a distance of 10.5km. The highway, with a total distance of 73km, costs about RM1.8 billion. A small part of it is built by the state government.
Once these major projects are ready, Kota Baru and other towns will be easily accessible from all parts of the country. So, don’t say the government is not listening to your problems. It does. It just takes time for issues to be resolved before projects can be implemented.
The writer, a grandfather, adores children and loves traveling, both locally and abroad.