State Local Government, Traffic Management and Flood Mitigation Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the RM17 billion allocation included the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT) from Komtar and the Pan Island Link 1 projects.
“What is approved for Phase 1 costs less than RM27 billion.
“What has been approved and to be given the green light to start are the Bayan Lepas Light Rail Transit (LRT) and the Pan Island Link 1 projects, which are just about RM17 billion,” he told reporters here today.
He explained that the environmental impact assessment (EIA) report for the Bayan Lepas LRT project had been submitted to the Department of Environment in May.
It is currently waiting for the Land Public Transport Commission’s (SPAD) conditional approval for public inspection. Chow hoped SPAD, which is currently working on the Northern Region Transport Master Plan, would give the nod for the project soon.
The EIA report for the Pan Island Link is expected to be submitted by the end of July.
Chow reiterated that the total cost of the PTMP, as proposed by its project delivery partner SRS Consortium, was RM46 billion for the railway and highway, which also included three major roads and undersea tunnel project by Consortium Zenith Construction Sdn Bhd (CSZ).
He said based on the engineering consultant, Halcrow, what was proposed was only the conceptual study with the cost estimated at RM27 billion. No detailed studies were undertaken.
“The state government had appointed SRS Consortium to implement the PTMP, and the consortium had proposed a cost of RM46 billion after they conducted a feasibility study and preliminary engineering design.”
He added these costs remained the same so far.
It was reported early this month that the BN strategic communications team had questioned the Penang government over the alleged increase of the PTMP cost from RM27 billion to RM46 billion, an increase of RM19 billion.