THE Penang state government has approved a nominal charge of RM50 monthly, or RM3 one-way, for each rider on its BEST FIZ that operates from Sunway Carnival to Bayan Lepas Free Industrial Zone.
It will also reschedule the arrival and departure times for BEST FIZ together with Perda Feeder and Juru Feeder. These changes will be effective July 20.
The nominal charge can be paid to the transport operators- RapidPenang through its mobile counter which will be operational at BEST FIZ stations in Seberang Jaya, Juru and Perda.
The detailed arrival and departure schedules will be informed by RapidPenang soon.
“The changes is to get the commitment of bus riders and to optimimise ridership, besides reducing cost borne by the state government,” exco for Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Chow Kon Yeow told a press conference at Komtar on July 10, with Traffic Management Unit chief engineer Lim Thean Hin and Local Government Division engineers Mustaqin Alpi and Nurul Asyikin Abd. Rahman.
Chow said apart from optimisation of ridership and cost reduction for the state government, the changes will also assist in gathering correct information for permanent ridership and non-permanent ones for BEST FIZ.
“It will also help in the disbursement of funds to improve new bus transport facilities,” he added.
He said BEST FIZ bus services have been reduced from 13 buses to seven, culminating in a saving of around RM60,000 monthly or around RM720,000 yearly for the state government.
Chow said in efforts to reduce traffic congestion, the state government will have additional buses for BEST KOMTAR judging from its overwhelming response.
BEST KOMTAR will have six buses from August.
“The state government will continue to be caring with an open mind towards the betterment of public transport from time to time,” he added.
For details, contact Traffic Management Unit, Local Government Department at 04-6505257/04-6505682/04-6505683 and Rapid Penang at 04-2381313.
Pix Caption:
Chow (third from left) and Nurul (right) showing the information notices of bus schedules at the
press conference. Looking on were Mustaqin (left) and Lim.
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