THE Penang government has reiterated that the projects under the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) would only start after the respective projects obtained the approvals.
State Transport and Infrastructure Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari (PH-Tanjong Bunga) said the Penang government would not start any of the project without first obtaining the required approval.
“We will also ensure that the conditions imposed are complied with,” he replied the oral question raised Ong Khan Lee (PH-Kebun Bunga) during the Penang State Legislative Assembly in Dewan Sri Pinang today.
Zairil said the Penang South Reclamation (PSR) project had been presented to the National Physical Planning Council (NPPC) on April 18 last year and the council had imposed 18 points of advice to be adhered to.
“The PSR project has received the Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) approval on June 25 last year with 72 conditions. The project has also obtained the approval letter for its Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report from PLAN Malaysia on Aug 27 last year.
“In general, the PSR project has obtained all the mandatory approvals that are required from the Federal Government. The Environmental Management Plan (EMP) report, which is one of the 72 conditions imposed, has been submitted to the Department of Environment (DoE) on July 17 and is still awaiting approval,” he said.
Zairil added that Danish architecture firm Bjarke Ingels Group (BIG) had been chosen as the lead masterplan designer for the PSR project after winning the Penang South Islands International Masterplan Design Competition.
As for the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (BL LRT) project, Zairil said the Phase One of the project had obtained the EIA approval on Feb 21 this year with 63 conditions.
“The Heritage Impact Assessment (HIA) report has been approved on Aug 28 while the Social Impact Assessment (SIA) report was approved on June 19. The BL LRT project has also obtained the conditional approval on July 18 last year.
Zairil said the Pan Island Link I (PIL I) project, which is another component of the PTMP, had obtained the EIA report approval with 56 conditions on April 10 last year.
“The Traffic Impact Assessment (TIA) report was approved by the Public Works Department (JKR) and the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) on Aug 24, 2018,” he said.
Zairil said the project delivery partner (PDP) SRS Consortium is currently working on the PTMP financial architecture.
As for the three paired roads project, Zairil said the roads project had obtained the EIA report approval on Nov 7, 2017 with 59 conditions.
“Works have started on the 5.7km Air Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass (Package Two) on Oct 31 last year.
“The project contractor is finalising the detailed design amendments for Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang paired road (Package One) and the Gurney Drive-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway bypass (Package Three).
“The Penang government is still reviewing the draft of the feasibility study report that was submitted by Consortium Zenith Construction (CZC),” he said.
He added that no land was transferred to fund the feasibility study for the undersea tunnel.
“The only land transferred was for the feasibility study and detailed design for the three paired roads project,” he stressed.
Story by Christopher Tan
Pix by Ahmad Adil Muhamad and Alvie Cheng