THE Penang Island City Council (MBPP) plans to take five years to upgrade 9km of back lanes and 10 acres of green empty spaces in the George Town World Heritage Site.
State Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the initiative taken under the ‘Repopulation George Town’ programme would be done in stages to beautify and maintain the elements of heritage in the city.
“It encompasses the work of upgrading pedestrian walkways, landscaping and lighting fixtures. This also involves removing obstacles behind existing buildings,” Jagdeep told a press conference at City Hall today.
“The upgraded fields will provide a place for recreation, neighbourhood activities and green areas within the city. ”
This year, MBPP aims to upgrade a 1km-long of back lanes – in Armenian Street (100m), Church Street (100m), Lebuh Acheh (100m), Lebuh Kimberley (50m), Jalan Cheong Fatt Tze (150m) and Lebuh Chulia/Jalan Penang (500m).
MBPP has allocated RM2.5 million for the works in Lebuh Chulia/Jalan Penang, and RM500,000 each for Armenian Street and Church Street.
For next year, the back lane transformation will approximately double the length to 2km, involving Lebuh Lumut (200m), Peoples Court (600m), Lebuh King (200m), Lorong Soo Hong (150m), Jalan Kampung Malabar (300m), Jalan Pintal Tali (250m) and Jalan Sri Bahari (200m).
Jagdeep said last month, the Bank of China helped transform a side lane connecting Beach Street to Weld Quay into an exciting pocket park under their corporate social responsibility (CSR) programme.
MBPP mayor Datuk Yew Tung Seang said the back lane transformation project would provide safer walkways, which is in line with Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow’s vision, Penang2030: A Family-focused Green and Smart State that Inspires the Nation.
He said MBPP welcomed firms to take part in the project through their CSR programmes.
“I promise that we will speed up the project so that it could be completed smoothly,” said Yew.
Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng, who was also present, said the back lane transformation project would benefit the local community.
“I hope this back lane transformation project will be successfully achieved,” Teh said.
Story by J. Kirrthana
Pix by Alissala Thian