A TOTAL of 23,000 people have visited the booths set up to gather feedback from the public and stakeholders on the revised railway scheme for the Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) Mutiara Line project, says Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow.
He said that according to Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation (MRT Corp), the project owner of the LRT Mutiara Line, 8,000 people out of that number have submitted feedback.
The public inspection exercise, which began on Feb 24 and runs until May 24, allows Penangites to review and comment on the proposed extension of the LRT line to Seberang Perai, its alignment, station locations and other related matters.
Designated information booths have been set up at several locations across Penang, including Komtar, Penang Sentral and the Butterworth KTM station, as part of the public inspection exercise.
The earlier railway scheme approval was obtained under the state government, providing for a route from Komtar to Silicon Island.
Subsequently, amendments introduced a secondary depot at the Pesta site. Nevertheless, the depot at Silicon Island remains designated as the main depot.
Chow said the tender for Package 2, which involves rolling stock (trains) and other systems, has been postponed.
“Although it is important, it does not affect civil works under Package 1. Before Package 1 is completed, work on Package 2 cannot commence – how can tracks be laid even when pillars have not been erected?
“That said, I believe the slight adjustment to the schedule will not pose a problem, as the substructure and superstructure works must be completed first. The stations also need to be ready before the rail system, electrical system, signalling system and rolling stock are installed. Those stages are still some way off,” he said.
Chow added that the Package One contractor needs to know the requirements of the Package Two contractor.
The operation for the RM16.8 billion Mutiara Line is targeted to commence in December 2031.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Adleena Rahayu Ahmad Radzi
Video by Alissala Thian