After winning the state elections with a two-thirds majority, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow wasted no time in getting back to work. With promises to deliver on the Penang Unity Manifesto 2023, several grand projects are expected to take off under his leadership. Here are some highlights from the manifesto:
The Penang South Island Project, originally planned as a two-island project, will now be scaled down to just one island, known as Silicon Island. This man-made island will measure 930ha and house the Green Tech Park (GTP) and Heart of the Island (Hoti) business district. It is expected to take between 10 and 15 years to complete and will feature research and design facilities, digital technology infrastructure, ecommerce, and business process outsourcing.
Silicon Island Development Sdn Bhd, owned by SRS PD Sdn Bhd, has awarded the design, management, and construction of the Phase 1 reclamation works to contractor SRS TC Sdn Bhd. Environmental approval is still pending, but once completed, the project is expected to attract high-impact investments.
GBS By The Sea, developed by Penang Development Corporation (PDC), aims to address the rising demand from Global Business Services (GBS) and technology and research and development (R&D) companies. The project will consist of a nine-storey office building and a six-storey multilevel carpark and is expected to be completed in 2024.
Medi-tech City, located in Batu Kawan, is a project with a gross development value of RM9.9 billion. It is set to be an integrated, sustainable, and high technology medical city and business hub. The facilities will include a hospital, medical campus, medical supply hub, corporate suites, rehabilitation center, retirement village, hotel, wellness center, sports center, electrical and electronics sectors, and a logistics and distribution hub.
The Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) project will now extend all the way to Tanjung Bungah, covering a 29km distance and making 27 stations available. The project is expected to be completed in five years.
The Juru-Sungai Dua Elevated Highway project will be upgraded to a “diverging diamond interchange” to address severe congestion along the North-South Expressway. Lane widening and synchronizing traffic signal timing have also been proposed.
Other projects include the Penang Hill Cable Car, the Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang Dual Carriageway, the Ayer Itam-Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway Bypass, and the Sungai Bakap Bypass. These projects aim to improve transportation and tourism infrastructure in Penang.
With these ambitious projects planned, Penang Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow is set to leave a lasting impact on the state.
Credit: The Star : Metro Feed
