agencies working together resulting in a lack of rural road transportation .
Rural development infrastructure cross several municipal boundaries , which require inter-regional co-operation and communication between different administrative and political jurisdictions . One of the main constraints to co-ordination is perhaps the perceived threat to the autonomy of the organisations . A lack of consensus regarding the tasks at hand is also another constraint in developing a sustainable transportation infrastructure framework .
Shortage of expertise , especially in local authorities , to handle transportation issues is a severe problem . At the local Government level , officers ’ lack of knowledge of rural road planning is viewed as critical because individuals who are assigned to prepare plans lack expertise in the field .
b . Measurement of Project Viability Project viability is a commonly measured target against monetary benchmarks . A project is typically not considered viable if these benchmarks are not met . As a result of this stereotype , cities get denser with more infrastructure projects while economic development in rural and suburban areas is hindered . Rural roads require a substantial initial outlay for construction , as well as recurring annual operating and maintenance costs requiring complex project financing .
c . Lack of Policy for Implementation and Inter- Governmental Issues When policy formulation is separated from implementation , the objectives that were set may fail to be communicated to the implementing agencies . This gives the impression that the policy is incorrect . The planning system in Malaysia is such that policies are formulated at the federal level while the agent responsible for implementation is located at local level .
According to studies and experience , any slack in the inter-Governmental marketplace allows room for a wide range of political influences on policy-making . The intervention of politics may contribute to challenges in the development of rural roads . A change of Government and policy makers indirectly affects the budget and approaches in areas which may have a negative impact on rural development .
d . Awareness of Sustainable Development The real meaning of sustainable transport systems is perhaps not fully understood by policy makers . In developing economic policies , more often than not , environmental , and social measures are given the least priority over economic growth . Challenges in implementing an Environmental Impact Assessment ( EIA ), where it affects road connectivity , include budget limitation , unhinged data access , complicated approval processes and time limitations . The Government has regulated the budget limit for road expenses especially for EIAs , adversely affecting the quality road networks .
e . Complexities of Land Acquisition The complexities of the land acquisition process also lead to delays in acquiring land which may cause projects to be delayed and , coupled with any increase in the cost of materials , result in contractor claims for additional charges . Land acquisition becomes an issue when there are objections from landowners due to inadequate compensation . The affected landowners are frequently dissatisfied with the amount of compensation for any land seized , severance , destructive impacts , and disruptions . The lack of effective methodologies in the land acquisition process causes project delays .
Recommendations and Conclusion
There are a number of recommendations to meet the challenges highlighted . The Government needs to formulate a Rural Road Network Development Plan as a National Master Plan that aims to develop the rural network and complements the national economic development plan . Simultaneously , the plan should target improvements in efficiency , reliability , and safety in the movement of goods and people . Furthermore , the Master Plan should explore expanded access to necessary facilities
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