Chow: Need for Penang's mega projects to be expedited

GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government has started negotiations with concession companies and government agencies to accelerate the implementation of mega projects in the state.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said his party would be meeting with concessionaires to discuss the progress and implementation of the projects.
"We have also received requests from Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD) to discuss how best to develop the projects," he told reporters after opening the Ramadan Bazaar organised by the Penang Muslim League, here today.
The Tanjung Member of Parliament (MP) said that since the state government was now "in line" with the federal government, there was hope that the project documentation would be accelerated.
Among the projects being classified as state mega projects are the underwater tunnel project which includes the construction of three major highways, the Southern Penang reclamation project, Penang Sky Cab and Light Rail Transit (LRT) with an estimated total cost of RM46 billion.
Chow, said the implementation of the two major highways connecting the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Highway to Air Itam and Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang under the Zenith Consortium will be completed in the near future.
He said since both of these major highways had been approved by the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA), they will start ahead of other projects.
"Before this, we had problems in the acquisition of federal land but with the Federal Government being represented by the Pakatan Harapan (PH) alliance, I see that the two highways under Zenith Consortium are ready to be implemented," he said.
These mega projects are under the Penang Transport Master Plan which aims to help overcome traffic congestion in Penang and also connect the island to Seberang Perai.
The 7.2km undersea tunnel project will connect Persiaran Gurney to Bagan Ajam in Seberang Perai. The main highway construction comprises the 10.53km from Tanjung Bungah to Teluk Bahang, the Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway and the Persiaran Gurney-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway. — Bernama