GEORGE TOWN: Residents in Penang are eagerly anticipating the start of the Light Rail Transit (LRT) project later this year. The public is confident that the LRT will alleviate the long-standing traffic congestion in Penang.
A check by Bernama reveals that the public is excited about the project and believes that it will ease the traffic congestion they have been experiencing for a long time.
Farahlina Zainol, 32, is eagerly anticipating the start of the LRT service. She believes it will not only ease traffic congestion but also help save on her commuting expenses to her workplace in Komtar.
Farahlina, who commutes daily from Bayan Lepas near here, using a motorcycle or car, always gets stuck in traffic.
“From what I’ve read in the newspapers, the LRT route will be from the Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas to Komtar. This convenience will definitly push me to use the LRT for my daily commute,” she said.
“When I was in Kuala Lumpur, I used the LRT to get to work. I know how beneficial it can be in avoiding traffic jams.”
“Now that I am in Penang, the traffic is so bad… the buses are always packed. So, the LRT will be the ultimate solution to this problem,” she told Bernama, emphasizing that taking the LRT is much safer than using a motorbike.
Neoh Zhe Chung, a college student, believes the LRT will be more convenient than other modes of public transport, saving him time and the hassle of finding parking spaces.
“I usually rely on buses or e-hailing services but they have their own issues. Buses are often late due to traffic jams, while e-hailing rates have significantly increased.”
“The LRT will become the preferred mode of transport for Penang residents. I live in Tanjung Tokong and I’ve heard that it will be along the LRT route,” he said.
R. Kallani, a 65-year-old resident of Relau and a long-time user of Penang bus services, is eagerly looking forward to riding the LRT.
“My younger brother lives in Kuala Lumpur and he commutes to work on the LRT. We hope to have the same experience here, as traffic jams are only getting worse,” she said.
Meanwhile, Pung Taw Lim, 53, expresses gratitude for the approval of the LRT project by the Federal and state governments. This project is also an effort towards achieving a greener state.
The LRT project in Penang is expected to start earlier than planned after the Federal and state governments agreed to construct the LRT depot on existing land, deviating from the previous plan of building it on the reclaimed south Penang islands.
Initially, the first phase of the LRT Line was planned to start at Penang International Airport and end at Komtar. However, this has been extended to Tanjung Bungah.
The first phase will have a total of 27 multi-storey stations along its 29km route. For the next phase, the government aims to expand the project to Butterworth and Kepala Batas.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim recently announced that the Federal Government has allocated additional funds to expedite the Penang LRT project, aiming to tackle the traffic congestion issue. – Bernama
Credit: The Star : News Feed
