Mutiara Line sched not affected by amendment, says MRT boss

Source: The Star

GEORGE TOWN: The construction of the Mutiara Line, Penang’s first light rail transit (LRT) project, will go according to schedule despite a minor amendment to the original plan, says Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) Corp chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Zarif Hashim (pic).

He said the project would be carried out on time and that there was no need for the resubmission of the environmental impact assessment (EIA).

“The slight amendment to the track is meant to accommodate the line extended to Penang Sentral on the mainland from Penang island via an elevated track above the sea.

“Once we have updated the data on the LRT alignment, we will need to engage all the relevant agencies through workshops. The amended alignment, once finalised, will then be provided as an addendum for the necessary approval.

“All these will be done in the next three months. The main component of the alignment is still intact,” he said after giving Bayan Baru MP Sim Tze Tzin a briefing on the RM10bil project during the North Zone Madani Rakyat programme at the Sungai Nibong Pesta site yesterday.

According to earlier reports, the Penang government had planned to hold a workshop with stakeholders to finalise the Penang LRT Mutiara Line project, following minor amendments to the original plan.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the workshop was expected to be held within a week or two, so that further work involving the transformative infrastructure project could be carried out.

In the latest report released by MRT Corp, the alignment will begin from Penang Sentral on Penang mainland to the proposed first station on Penang island – Macallum.

From Macallum, it will pass through Komtar, Jalan Gurdwara, Solok Sungai Pinang, Sungai Pinang and Jelutong Timur, all the way to Silicon Island.

Two proposed stations – Bandar Sri Pinang and Sky Cab – along Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway, which were seen in the original plan, have since been omitted.

Current Alignment of the Mutiara LRT Line, formerly known as the Bayan Lepas LRT Line. It includes an extension at Penang Sentral in Butterworth.

Former alignment of the Bayan Lepas LRT Line. The line starts from Komtar, then to Macallum before continuing to the next 2 stations, which are omitted in the current alignment, before heading to Silicon Island.