Penang govt paid RM120 million for reports on the Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang stretch alone

Lim Sian See

This 12km Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang road (READ HERE) is one of three new roads planned as the traffic dispersal system of the Penang Undersea Tunnel project of which RM220mil have been paid for reports but start of construction delayed 3 1/2 years.

Residents who recently viewed the plans are not happy with the environmental damage due to deforestration and the fact that the roads will be on dangerous hill-slopes.

3.34ha of forest reserves gazetted as water catchment areas would be cleared for the road and that 46% of the proposed road would be on slopes with gradients higher than 25 degrees.

Residents are also confounded by the cost.

Meenakshi said that in 2011, the estimated construction and land acquisition cost of the NCPR was expected at RM1bil.

She said the EIA stated that at an average speed of 70kph, motorists would save 14 minutes of travel time compared with the current coastal road.

“Spending such a huge amount to save 14 minutes is a colossal waste of public resources,” she added.

I hope that this particular resident knows that the Penang govt already paid RM120mil for reports for this 12km road alone.

Source: www.facebook.com/lim.siansee