Picture by Goh PS - originally posted to Flickr , from Wikimedia
PENANG SKY CAB
The proposed alignment for the Penang Skycab is 4.8 km long and connects the Sky Cab Station in Butterworth , Seberang Perai with Skycab Station ( Bayan Lepas LRT ) in Jelutong , Penang . The feasibility study for this project is expected to be completed by the first half of 2016
PROJECT PARTNERS & CONTRACTORS
SRS Consortium , a triumvirate joint venture between Gamuda Berhad ( 60 %), Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd ( 20 %) and Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd ( 20 %) was appointed the Project Delivery Partner ( PDP ) for the PTMP in August 2015 . SRS Consortium ’ s proposal comprises a staged delivery starting with the Bayan Lepas LRT line , followed by subsequent rail and BRT lines in Penang Island and Seberang Perai .
Consortium Zenith BUCG Sdn Bhd is a company jointly formed by three corporate entities , Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd , Beijing Urban Construction Group and Juteras Sdn Bhd . The consortium will undertake the Undersea Tunnel and three major roads . Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad , a listed construction and property development company , will undertake the Sky Cab project .
COMMENTS AND CRITICISMS
As in any major infrastructure plan , the PTMP has attracted a fair share of comments and criticisms . The Penang Forum , a coalition of publicinterest civil society groups , for instance , notes that the lion ’ s share of the budget ( 70 %) is to build more roads for cars , instead of building public transport . They are of the view that building more roads simply creates more demand for usage of cars . Thus , it runs contrary to the “ moving people , not cars ” motto expounded . They also argue that the financial model begs many questions . Reclamation is a two-edge sword as it brings state revenue but also irreversible environmental and social costs . They call for a rethink of the financial model which allows the use of highways free of charge , as this is unsustainable .
According to the PTMP website , the State Government is open to engagement with stakeholders and affected residents . Penang State Executive Councillor in charge of Local Government , Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation , Chow Kon Yeow said that detailed environmental impact assessment ( DEIA ), heritage impact assessment ( HIA ) and fisheries impact assessment ( FIA ) studies are being carried out in focus group discussions and case interviews with stakeholders and affected fishing villages .
Barring any obstacles , the construction of key infrastructure projects under the PTMP , the Bayan Lepas LRT and Pan Island Link 1 are targeted to start as early as 2017 . To what extent the ambitious Master Plan will materialise has yet to be seen . Nevertheless , expansion of transport infrastructure is a positive move to spur economic development . ~ Inforeach
REFERENCE
www . pgmasterplan . penang . gov . my eps . mbpj . gov . my / urbantransport / paper2 . pdf
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