KUCHING: Sarawak Transport Minister Lee Kim Shin says his ministry will undertake a study to draw up a 15-year integrated transportation master plan for the state following the omission of riverine transport from the National Transport Policy.
He said riverine transport remains a critical mode of transportation in Sarawak, particularly in rural areas.
“The National Transport Policy is supposed to be comprehensive and inclusive, and cover the transportation needs of all regions including Sarawak.
“Therefore, we will continue to improve the river infrastructure, aid for navigation and integrated services to ensure the safety of passengers and cargo movement,” he said in his winding-up speech at the state assembly here.
There are presently 35 rivers gazetted under the Sarawak Rivers Ordinance 1993.
Lee also said he would meet with Transport Minister Loke Siew Fook next Monday to discuss the state’s transportation issues.
He cited the 2020 Budget which included a provision for RM450 million for electric buses.
“However, it did not mention how much Sarawak will get,” he said.
He said his ministry would also look into traffic congestion in Kuching and other major towns in the state.
He said a study on urban traffic in Kuching showed an expected increase in number of vehicles on the road from 317,400 in 2015 to 449,200 in 2030.
Given these figures, he said, the ministry plans to introduce an integrated smart traffic light system, a bus rapid transit system and an automated rapid transit system to address congestion issues. - FMT
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.