PARTI Rakyat Malaysia (PRM) has reiterated its criticism of Penang’s proposed light rail transit (LRT), calling the new system outdated.
In a statement on Wednesday (June 5), Penang PRM vice-president Ravinder Singh also slammed the state’s infrastructure, transport and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari, questioning why Zairil was “hell-bent” on an LRT that would burden the public despite admitting earlier that the state did not have the passenger numbers to sustain an LRT.
“The LRT and mass rapid transit (MRT) are technologies on the way out, like black and white TV. Will the LRT have to be torn down by future generations?” asked Ravinder.
“Zairil admitted that Penang does not have the passenger numbers to sustain an LRT, so why is he still so hell-bent on an LRT that will burden the public, besides damaging the Penang landscape for good?”
Ravinder further stressed that regardless of passenger numbers, the infrastructure required remained virtually the same.
“(It needs) the same elevated track and the 19 stations will be the same, taking up more land,” he remarked.
“Maintenance of the tracks, stations, etc. will be the same. All this infrastructure could cost up to 80% or more of the total estimated RM10.5 bil.”
According to Ravinder, an autonomous rail rapid transit (ART) system was a much more viable alternative to the LRT as it does not “lock up” any land permanently for the pillars to hold the tracks, or for the stations.
“It is flexible, that is, it can be rerouted to new development areas that need good, mass public transport,” Ravinder said, challenging the claim that the ART cannot run on Penang roads.
“It can very easily run between Komtar and the airport,” he said, adding that this route was the main reason for building a mass transit system in Penang, while the Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway was also suitable.
Ravinder claimed that an ART system could be up and running far sooner than its LRT equivalent and at a fraction of the cost, although he did not specify projected costs for the former.
He also argued that the ART and bus services would further cut the number of single-occupancy vehicles, which constitute 70% of rush-hour traffic in the state.
Last Wednesday (May 29) Zairil was reported as saying that the Penang government together with Mass Rapid Transit Corp Sdn Bhd are exploring a “low- to medium-capacity” system for the Penang Mutiara Line LRT project.
Zairil also said the procurement board of the Transport Ministry will choose the type under the LRT system based on passenger projections and the state’s needs.
The LRT project, comprising an estimated length of 29 kilometres, with 20 stations includes two interchange stations at Komtar Station and Penang Sentral Station, is expected to start in September or October this year. – June 5, 2024
Main pic credit: Kosmo Digital
