IPOH: The Teluk Intan Municipal Council (MPTI) is ready to conduct a study on the proposal from the residents of Kampung Baru Palawan near Langkap that the “jalan tikus” or dirt road in Ladang Bikam be turned into an alternative route for North-South Expressway (NSE) users during congested periods.
MPTI council member, A. Sri Murugan said that so far he has received verbal suggestions from the village head.
“If there is a written application, MPTI will forward the project proposal to the Public Works Department as the route spans across land owned by the federal government and various private parties.
“The process of turning the road into an alternative route necessitates the involvement of various stakeholders, including state government exco members and district officials, and requires the consent of many parties,” he said when contacted by Bernama here today.
According to him, the MPTI would conduct a study on the project costs, and it could be implemented if there is adequate allocation.
Last Wednesday, Bernama reported that Kampung Baru Palawan villagers proposed turning the road into an alternative route for NSE users when the highway was congested, especially during festive seasons.
Earlier, a road user, Zairul Annuar Mohd Zain, 47, uploaded a video of him using the Ladang Bikam trail to return to Nilai, Negeri Sembilan, on April 13 after a group of villagers went out of their way to level the bumpy route so that regular vehicles could pass through.
Using the Google Maps application, Zairul Annuar said he tried to use internal routes from Gopeng to Ladang Bikam to return to Nilai after spending the Hari Raya holidays in Ipoh.
The video of the heartwarming incident went viral the next day.
