Public inspection of Penang LRT plan from Aug 19

The proposed Penang LRT will run from Komtar in George Town to the airport in Bayan Lepas.

GEORGE TOWN: A three-month public inspection of plans for the state’s Light-Rail Transit project will be held from Aug 19.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said he hoped the public will take the opportunity to review the rail transit project and obtain information such as the alignment and location of the stations.

“In addition, the public can also provide feedback, criticisms or any other objections to the issues raised. We will include what they provide in the feedback form,” Bernama quoted him as saying.

The state government and those involved in the construction of the LRT, he said, will review the feedback before presenting it to the Land Public Transport Agency for approval.

Chow said the venue for these public inspections will be announced at a later date.

He said that among the 30 conditions stipulated by federal authorities for the 30km project was to obtain feedback from the public and stakeholders on the LRT line.

Criticisms of the project arose recently after a dispute over its proposed route through the area fronting the Sungai Nibong Besar mosque. The LRT line will run along the eastern coast of Penang island from Komtar to Bayan Lepas airport.

The state government was also required to consult and seek feedback from Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad on the location of the LRT station at Penang airport “to ensure that the distance and connection facilities are conducive and appropriate for passenger movement between stations and airport terminals”, the national news agency quoted Chow as saying.

On July 17, the transport ministry had approved Penang’s plan to build an LRT, on condition that it met with the requirements. This included social, heritage and traffic impact assessments as well as other technical requirements.

Chow said the onus is now on the state government to look into these conditions and take appropriate action to meet the land transport agency’s requirements.