Penang Forum: State does not need LRT service

GEORGE TOWN: A Penang Forum member called on the state government to justify the need for a light rail transit (LRT) system in Penang, after reports emerged that the project had been approved by the Land Public Transport Commission (SPAD).
Dr Lim Mah Hui said that despite the approval, questions still hung over the project; such as the alleged inability to sustain operation costs, low ridership numbers and the impact to the environment.
"It is a good mode of public transport, but the model presented has many question marks attached to it. We went through it and there are many doubts raised."
Among them, according to Lim, were the costs and the low ridership projection numbers, as the state's population base was only estimated at 1.8 million.
Lim has suggested an alternative model such as a tram service around George Town, or using the latest technologies such as a one track train which can be high-speed and costs less than the LRT model.
However, it was learnt that transport engineers have looked at the prospects of a tram and found that it was difficult to revive the old tram line as there were simply too many utility connections in the heart of George Town.
"One has to consider the water, electric and telecommunication lines in the area if one wants to erect a tram service," said one of the engineers.
In another development, Lim said that the majority of civil society activists were unhappy with the stand taken by Energy, Science, Technology, Environment and Climate Change Minister Yeo Bee Yin, who reportedly gave a non-committal answer after attending a townhall session on the master plan on Thursday.
Lim said that the least Yeo could have done, was instruct the Department of Environment (DOE) to review the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) report of the Pan Island Link 1 highway project, after the forum had pointed out gross deficiencies in the document.
Meanwhile, former Batu Uban assemblyman S. Raveentharan has urged the state government to proceed with the transport master plan, stating that it was difficult to please everyone over the proposed mega project.
He said that the detractors of the project must understand that ultimately, it was for the good of Penangites.