CHIEF Minister Chow Kon Yeow today said the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT) project should kickstart accordingly, provided the project meets its designated timeline.
Penang has received eight submissions from local and international consortiums for the Bayan Lepas LRT project pre-qualification process, according to a recent announcement by state Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari.
The process, which was held from July 25 to Aug 19, saw 45 companies registering interest and purchasing the pre-qualification documents.
“Whenever you plan anything, there is always a timeline.
“So, as mentioned by the state government that the project is set to start next year, we have to work accordingly so that we can meet the timeline.
“We are yet to finalise the acquiring of the land but as I have said, we hope to get things done according to our timeline,” Chow told reporters after being asked whether the Bayan Lepas LRT project would be able to start on time next year.
The pre-qualification process was to identify and pre-qualify suitable contractors to participate in the Request for Proposal (RFP) tender process for the engineering, procurement, construction, testing and commissioning of the LRT’s viaducts, stations, depot, system and other associated works, as well as the funding, operation and maintenance of the LRT system.
Asked about the claim by a political party that several households living within the proposed project radius were not aware of the acquiring of the land and the need to relocate to make way for the execution of the LRT project, Chow said a public hearing and a survey had been conducted in the past to receive feedback from the people.
That was done, he said, to ensure the entire process was done in the most appropriate manner.
On another matter, if he would be defending Tanjong parliamentary seat in the 15th General Election, Chow said DAP secretary-general Anthony Loke would be announcing the list of candidates from the northern region states (Penang, Kedah and Perlis) by the end of this week.
Story by Kevin Vimal
Pix by Darwina Mohd Daud
Video by Noor Siti Nabilah Noorazis