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BUKIT MERTAJAM: The long-awaited Penang Sentral project is likely to start in the fourth quarter of this year, says the Northern Corridor Implementation Authority (NCIA).
Its chief executive, Datuk Redza Rafiq said NCIA was looking at how to position the project, and work in line with the collaborative engagement model with all parties involved.
"We are now going through the land acquisition process with all the stakeholders. Rest assured that the project will start this year, most likely in the fourth quarter," he added.
Redza said this in response to a question on the delayed project which has raised concerns among Penangites, with the ground breaking ceremony by former Prime Minister Tun Abdullah Ahmad Badawi, held in 2007.
He said the first phase of the project, which is the construction of the integrated transportation terminal, would take two years to complete, while the entire project is a 10-year initiative.
Penang Sentral, another highlight of the Northern Corridor Economic Region's (NCER) undertakings, is a proposed integrated transport and logistics hub, which will integrate rail, ferry, monorail and land transport.
The integrated transport hub will be built on the site of the Butterworth ferry terminal, railway station and former bus terminal, covering an area of 557,418 square meters.
The proposed RM2 billion modern and comprehensive transport hub would be developed via a joint-venture between Malaysian Resources Corporation Bhd (MRCB) and Pelaburan Hartanah Bumiputra Bhd.
The proposed hub will consist of two ferry, two monorail, four train and 50 bus platforms as well as 4,000 parking bays, with commercial and residential properties.
It has the capacity to accommodate some 200,000 passengers/users daily. - Bernama
