http://www.mmail.com.my/story/%E2%80%98com...%E2%80%99-46605

‘Compelled by federal govt’s failed promise’
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 05, 2013 - 15:04
by A. Sangeetha
Location:
GEORGE TOWN



THE federal government’s alleged failed promise in providing a light rail transit (LRT) or monorail system or the Penang Outer Ring Road (PORR) compelled the state government to introduce the RM8 billion integrated road infrastructure project.

“The BN government failed to deliver their promise that could have reduced traffic congestion on the island. Where is your LRT you promised seven years ago?” asked Chief Minister Lim Guan Eng.

“Now they promise a monorail but if you couldn’t fulfill the LRT then, don’t think that Penangites will believe you now.”

He said that although the present government preferred the tram system, outer ring roads and highways were necessary to free up the roads from congestion.

“You have to take into account the number of vehicles coming in. I think we need alternative roads to free up some of the heritage areas that are now main roads. So, you can’t close the roads for events because you block up traffic,” he said.

“Of course, we prefer the tram but it cannot be done because that is under the federal government.”

Guan Eng said the Pakatan Rakyat would accept the Penang Outer Ring Road project if the federal government changed the alignment.

If the alignment comprised tunnelling instead of “going over the hill”, it would solve a lot of problems as well as the need to stop human resettlement.

“Most of our projects do not have problems of impact on the environment and humans. There would hardly be any human resettlement because it is largely on unoccupied areas and road reserves,” he said.

“The Air Itam underpass goes under the hill but it is land that is uninhabited.

We need roads across to Paya Terubong and Tanjung Bungah and an outer ring road from Gurney Drive to the expressway for public access.

“These are critical. There many foreign examples where roads are built under hills but we will wait for the detailed environmental impact assessment.”

This post has been edited by Kampung2005: Feb 5 2013, 06:52 PM

The proposed road infrastructure is very similar to those in Hong Kong and Tokyo.

Problem is that it is said Putrajaya shelved monorail project few years ago, only to revive it near election time.

Penang itself do not have fund for the tunnel. The tunnel, what they said, is mostly funded by giving reclamation rights for the land not far from Gurney, that will pay for the infrastructure such as tunnel and bypass roads.

Penang wants to run their own bus company for routes that are not served by Rapid Penang, but it is said to be rejected by Putrajaya, as does the proposal to pay RM 10 million for Rapid Penang to offer free bus rides during peak hour.

Nope. Payment based on 110 acres of reclaimed land from the sea. It is similar to what the previous Penang government did on Jelutong Expressway (now Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu expressway) which was funded by giving the developer the right to reclaim land (325 acres) which is now being developed as "The Light Waterfront".