THE flood mitigation project in Jalan P. Ramlee is now on its home straight as it is expected to be completed by next month.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and County Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the final phase of the project costing RM413,550 started last July and is being implemented by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP).
“This final phase project involves the road level raising work, widening of the drains from 0.6 metres to 1.8 metres from Jalan P. Ramlee to Jalan Terengganu.
“This project will benefit the residents of Jalan P. Ramlee, especially the premises at the intersection of Jalan Terengganu and Lengkok P. Ramlee,” Jagdeep told reporters today.
He added that the state government has carried out seven projects in Jalan P. Ramlee with a total cost of RM6.12 million since 2018.
It started with the upgrading of the drainage system along Jalan Ismail Che Matt (RM756,440), Jalan Maklom (including building a pump house at RM290,874), Jalan Utama and Jalan Datuk Keramat (RM408,490).
In 2019, upgrading works on the drainage system continued in Lorong Singgora which cost RM415,555 before the implementation of the movement control order (MCO) in 2020.
The upgrading project later continued such as road level raising works in Jalan P. Ramlee and the construction of two pump houses on the banks of Sungai Jelutong (RM3.64 million).
In the meantime, a trench was built in 2021 to increase the capacity of the rainwater flow rate from Lot 3423 Jalan P. Ramlee into Sungai Jelutong which cost RM216,288.
“With the climate crisis, we have to be prepared. We know that floods usually originate from the Sungai Pinang and one of the worst affected locations is Jalan P. Ramlee,” said Jagdeep.
In the meantime, MBPP secretary Datuk A. Rajendran said this effort would lessen the effects of flooding in the area.
“But in the event of high intensity and prolonged rain, flooding may occur but not as serious as before.
“We will also build another line of box culverts across the road in this project to reduce the impact of flooding,” Rajendran said.
Also present at the press conference this morning were incumbent Jelutong MP R.S.N. Rayer and Penang State Secretariat Office Head of Local Government Division, Nur Aishah Md Norodin.
Story by Alia Siti Khadijah Azhar
Pix by Siti Nuratikah Rahmat