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Malaysian Reserve
a day ago
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Chow: Penang waiting for notice to proceed to start physical construction of LRT
GEORGE TOWN — The Penang government is still waiting for the official notice to proceed (NTP) from the Transport Ministry and Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) so that the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) physical construction can begin. Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the notice was required to allow SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd (SRS), as the main public work contractor for Package 1 of the project to start according to the plan and schedule. 'Some initial work has been done at the project site, including soil study, land acquisition and compensation negotiations with owners, but the official notice is important to allow physical construction work completely,' he told reporters after officiating the 2025 Penang Transport Day at Komtar today, in the presence of state Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari. He added that the state government has done its duty when it handed over its role in the project to MRT Corp and released SRS Konsortium as the party that had requested the LRT implementation previously. 'The state government's link with SRS is now in the context of the Penang Transport Master Plan, but the LRT project has been taken over by MRT Corp. The main duty is now with the federal government to issue the notice,' he said. Chow also said that the contractor has to ensure that the road area taken up is replaced by expanding the road on the side by maintaining the number of existing lanes to avoid traffic congestion that occurred during the LRT construction in Kuala Lumpur. The state government does not plan to impose any congestion charge as the priority was to ensure that the project and traffic management during the construction period run smoothly, he added. — BERNAMA
The Sun
a day ago
- Business
- The Sun
Penang waiting for notice to proceed to start physical construction of LRT
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is still waiting for the official notice to proceed (NTP) from the Transport Ministry and Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) so that the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) physical construction can begin. Penang chief minister Chow Kon Yeow said the notice was required to allow SRS Consortium Sdn Bhd (SRS), as the main public work contractor for Package 1 of the project to start according to the plan and schedule. 'Some initial work has been done at the project site, including soil study, land acquisition and compensation negotiations with owners, but the official notice is important to allow physical construction work completely,' he told reporters after officiating the 2025 Penang Transport Day at Komtar today, in the presence of state Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari. He added that the state government has done its duty when it handed over its role in the project to MRT Corp and released SRS Konsortium as the party that had requested the LRT implementation previously. 'The state government's link with SRS is now in the context of the Penang Transport Master Plan, but the LRT project has been taken over by MRT Corp. The main duty is now with the federal government to issue the notice,' he said. Chow also said that the contractor has to ensure that the road area taken up is replaced by expanding the road on the side by maintaining the number of existing lanes to avoid traffic congestion that occurred during the LRT construction in Kuala Lumpur. The state government does not plan to impose any congestion charge as the priority was to ensure that the project and traffic management during the construction period run smoothly, he added.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Still no green light for LRT construction work in Penang
GEORGE TOWN: The Penang government is still awaiting the Notice to Proceed or official notice to commence physical work on the Mutiara Line light rail transit project. Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said, although the official notice from the Transport Ministry has yet to be issued, several preliminary works had already been carried out on site, including soil investigations, land acquisition and compensation negotiations with the involved landowners. "The official notice is important to enable full-scale physical construction works according to the planned schedule and plans. "At the moment, we are still waiting for official instructions from the ministry and MRT Corp," he said after officiating the Penang Transport Day 2025 here today. The 29.5km Mutiara Line LRT includes 21 strategic stations and designed to enhance connectivity between Penang island and the mainland, thereby reducing road congestion and improving accessibility. The main route plan covers the route from Penang Silicon Island to Penang Sentral and the Komtar station in George Town, with train services scheduled to operate alternately along the route. Chow said the state government has fulfilled its responsibilities by fully handing over the roles related to the LRT project to MRT Corp and releasing SRS Consortium from its previous role as the party that applied for the LRT implementation before. "The state government's relationship with SRS is now within the context of the other Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP) projects, but for the LRT project, it has been taken over by MRT. "So now the main responsibility lies with the federal government to issue the notice," he added. Asked on the expected date for the issuance of the Notice to Proceed, Chow said the preliminary information received earlier stated it would be issued within a month or two. "Last month, I mentioned one or two months, so the second month is this month. Hopefully, it will really be issued this month," he said. Meanwhile, Chow said, as experienced in the LRT construction project in Kuala Lumpur, it was important for contractors to ensure that any road space taken in the course of construction, is replaced with road widening on the shoulders or side areas to maintain the existing number of lanes. "In Bandar Baru Air Itam, for example, the area used for road construction was replaced by taking land on the sides to ensure the two-lane route remains functional," he said. He added that, currently, the state government has no plans to impose any congestion charges because the priority now is to ensure smooth project implementation and traffic management throughout the construction period.
New Straits Times
2 days ago
- Business
- New Straits Times
Loke: RTS Link will strengthen Malaysia-Singapore relationship
SINGAPORE: The Johor Baru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link is not merely a transportation infrastructure project but a symbol of renewed trust, stronger ties and shared aspirations between Malaysia and Singapore. Transport Minister Anthony Loke said the project, which is set to begin operations on Jan 1, 2027, will significantly ease traffic congestion at the Johor Causeway while improving the lives of thousands who commute across the border daily. "This is not just about launching a train. It's about what it represents — two nations coming together again to build something greater than ourselves," he said at the launch of the first RTS Link train at the Singapore Rail Test Centre in Tuas, today. He said such a large-scale bilateral undertaking involved complex discussions and negotiations, but both sides had demonstrated the commitment needed to bring the project to life. "The RTS Link is a realisation of a long-term vision — to reduce congestion, save time and provide better connectivity between Malaysia and Singapore, whether for work, family or opportunity," he said. Also present was acting Singaporean Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow. Loke said the RTS Link was also a core enabler of the Johor-Singapore Special Economic Zone (JS-SEZ), helping facilitate seamless movement of people and skilled labour across both countries. "Without RTS Link, I don't believe the JS-SEZ would be as impactful or transformative. This rail line is a crucial part of that vision," he said. Mass Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd (MRT Corp) confirmed that major civil works have been completed for the Marine Viaduct, Bukit Chagar Station, and Wadi Hana Depot as of May 31. Interior works at Wadi Hana Depot are now 80 per cent complete and targeted for full completion by October. At Bukit Chagar Station, the roof façade installation is progressing steadily, while the Immigration, Customs and Quarantine (CIQ) complex has reached 90 per cent in structural work, with interior progress at 45 per cent. "The next major milestone is dynamic testing of the entire RTS train system, scheduled for May next year. "This phase will involve trial runs from Wadi Hana Depot to Bukit Chagar to validate readiness for full operations," said MRT Corp. With all key components progressing on schedule, MRT Corp is confident that the project will be fully operational by the end of December 2026.
New Straits Times
09-06-2025
- Automotive
- New Straits Times
18-month road closure in Johor Baru for RTS Link construction
JOHOR BARU: A crucial section of Jalan Johor Baru–Endau has been fully closed to traffic from June 3 and will remain so for more than 18 months to facilitate construction of the Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link. The Public Works Department announced that the full closure, affecting Section 0.10 to Section 0.20 of the road, wouldl be in place until Dec 31 next year to allow round-the-clock construction works. In a statement, MRT Corporation (MRT Corp) said the closure was necessary to carry out piling, pile cap works, and column erection as part of the RTS Link infrastructure, which will eventually connect Johor Baru to Singapore. During the closure of Section 0.10, motorists travelling from Jalan Tun Abdul Razak (towards Danga Bay) will be diverted via Jalan Station and Jalan Wong Ah Fook towards Jalan Tebrau. As an alternative, those travelling from Jalan Tun Abdul Razak 1 may use the route in front of Masjid Habib Hassan Al-Attas towards Danga City Mall, make a U-turn, and return to Jalan Tun Abdul Razak before turning left onto Jalan Lingkaran Dalam. Motorists are advised to adhere to traffic signages and instructions from on-site traffic personnel to ensure safety and minimise disruptions.
