Penang govt to fund third bridge should Federal govt grant approval

BUTTERWORTH: The Penang government will seek to fund the building of the third bridge linking the island and mainland should the Federal government grant its approval.
Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng (pix) said the state would find its own source of money to build the proposed bridge which connects Gurney Drive and Bagan Ajam.
He said the authority to issue the green light for the construction of the bridge is under the purview of the federal government based on the agreement between state and federal during the previous administration.
Lim said the cost to build the third bridge would be cheaper as compared to the much discussed undersea tunnel project.
Should the approval be given, Lim said that the state would also consider not collecting any toll money for the bridge.
"Would the federal government want to give the green light for this?" he said after attending the Wesak Day celebrations in Mak Mandin, today.
His comments came as he challenged the federal government to grant the approval to build a third bridge as an alternative to undersea link.
Lim was reported as saying that he was disappointed after certain quarters ticked off the state government for intending to collect toll for the proposed tunnel project.
Works Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof had since denied any claims that the state government applied to federal level to build a third bridge.
Lim, nonetheless, clarified that no application was made as he was clueless whether the go-ahead decision will be given, recalling that federal government did not even provide any answers when the proposal for the Light Rail Transit (LRT) was previously submitted to them.
"Do we dare to submit (a new) application to them?" he asked.
Lim added that while he did not blame Fadillah as he might be unaware of the previous brouhaha, he stressed that he will apply to the ministry soon.