THE cable car system for the proposed Penang Hill Cable Car project will be provided by Doppelmayr, a global market leader in ropeway engineering.
Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government is confident that the cable car service on Penang Hill would meet the highest international standards with the involvement of Doppelmayr.
“The Doppelmayr Group has built more than 86 cable car installations located in Unesco Heritage, Geopark and Biosphere sites as well as national parks of various countries around the world. Doppelmayr’s cable car systems are widely recognised for their reliability, safety, and cutting-edge technology.
“The Penang Hill Cable Car project was awarded to Hartasuma Sdn Bhd through a Public, Private Partnership (PPP) on Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer basis. The call for a Request For Proposal to solicit the best proposal for the Penang Hill Cable Car service was held on Jan 13, 2021. Due to the Covid-19 pandemic and restricted movement control orders, the validity period was extended to Nov 30, 2022.
“On Dec 14, 2022, a media conference was held in the presence of Hartasuma’s executive director Tan Sri Ravindran Menon to announce the Penang Hill Cable Car project being awarded to Hartasuma Sdn Bhd. Hartasuma is a homegrown pioneer in the local rail industry and has almost 30 years of experience in the entire range of project delivery from project management, international supply chain and logistics management, testing and commissioning protocols and project financing,” Chow said during the concession agreement signing ceremony between Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) and Hartasuma Sdn Bhd in Komtar today for the development of the Penang Hill Cable Car project under ‘Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer Mode’.
Chow said the signing ceremony marked an important milestone for Penang in making the project a reality.
“A holistic approach will be adopted to ensure that the Penang Hill Cable Car becomes a world-class attraction.
“The proposed investment of at least RM245 million by Hartasuma encompasses not just the cable car star attraction but also the beautification of the surrounding areas of Penang Botanic Gardens which will benefit both the locals and the visitors.
“Amenities and facilities in the area will be significantly enhanced for everyone’s comfort,” he said.
Chow added that the cable car project would contribute to the socio-economic development of the surrounding areas by creating hundreds of job opportunities besides enhancing tourism products in Penang.
“The detailed design is currently ongoing to create a well-integrated transportation system with a carefully designed traffic management plan at the project site.
“Among several measures proposed to ease traffic congestion were the construction of a multi-storey parking complex with ample parking space which will not only cater to the patrons of the Penang Hill Cable Car but also for the regulars and visitors to the Penang Botanic Gardens; the inclusion of a public transportation station which will provide parking bays for public transports, tour buses and e-hailing services, with carefully designed traffic management in the area; and parking space for public vehicles which would ordinarily be found parked along the roadside leading to the Penang Botanic Gardens.
“This will alleviate congestion at the entrance of Penang Botanic Gardens and create more open space for public activities,” Chow said.
Penang Hill receives an annual visitor population of between 1.4 million and 1.8 million people.
Chow said the Penang Hill Cable Car is expected to contribute towards traffic load balancing between the Penang Hill funicular and the cable car facility.
“It will help to redistribute traffic, especially during peak seasons, and offer a greener mode of transportation. The cable car will also complement the existing funicular railway, which has been a transportation lifeline for residents and visitors of Penang Hill for almost a century.”
Chow emphasised that the cable car project would be carried out comprehensively, taking into consideration the environmental and social nuances in the area.
“The cable car system is widely known as a green, most environmentally sustainable, and future-proof public transportation mode for terrestrial, hill resorts and urban areas. Cable cars run on electric power and emit very low noise pollution.
“The construction of cable cars requires minimal cutting of trees so this will not bring detrimental effects to the environment. PHC and Hartasuma are committed to ensuring a minimal number of towers with small footprints in the design and implementation of this project,” he said. It is learnt that the Penang Hill cable car line is approximately 2.73km-long.
Chow added that the concessionaire would adopt robust green construction methods including manual labour to carry out foundation works and a hand-dug caisson method.
“These measures, which do not require heavy machinery, will limit on-site clearing and preserve the surrounding greenery. No new roads will be built, and the existing Jeep Track will be used to ferry workers and materials to the base of the towers,” he said.
Chow said the concessionaire was also working towards certifying the project under the Green Building Index (GBI).
“The buildings on the site will apply sustainable design principles such as permeable surfaces, rainwater harvesting systems, installation of solar panels on the rooftops and electronic vehicle charging stations.
“By providing an environmentally friendly parking solution, the project promotes the reduction of carbon emissions and encourages sustainable transportation choices.
“In addition to these environmental considerations, the award-winning architects working on this project will also develop a contemporary, environmentally integrated architecture with world-class standards,” he added.
PHC general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng conducted a short presentation about the project, showing artists’ impressions of the Garden Station, Turn Station, and Hill Station.
Also present were Penang State Secretary Datuk Mohd Sayuthi Bakar, state Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, Penang Tourism and Creative Economy Committee chairman Yeoh Soon Hin, and Ravindran.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Alissala Thian
Video by Siew Chia En
