Penang seeks private sector partnership to proceed with cable car project

GEORGE TOWN, 11 Jan 2021:

The Penang state government – through Penang Bukit Bendera Corporation (PBBPP) – has announced its intention to continue the Bukit Bendera cable car project with the cooperation of the private sector.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the project will resume in collaboration with the private sector – after the RM100 million allocation to develop the Bukit Bendera cable car project was cancelled by the Perikatan Nasional (PN) government in April 2020.

“The state government feels that apart from the existing furnicular train, the cable car can be an additional mode of transportation, especially in reducing congestion during peak hours, thus contributing to Penang tourism continuous development,” he told a press conference here today.

Chow said a pre-feasibility study on the cable car project had been conducted and a comprehensive assessment of the market, social, economic, environmental impact and so forth, had been conducted by high calibre consultants.

“Based on the studies conducted, there are several optional routes for the project implementation namely through the Botanical Garden, Youth Park and Teluk Bahang. It is even possible to build multi-storey car parks at different locations depending on the alignment and location of the cable car stations.”

Chow said PBBPP had also proposed the use of electronic vehicles to bring visitors from the multi-storey car parks to the train stations.

“Following PBBPP’s application to recognise Bukit Bendera as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve under the Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme, a detailed development planning must be carried out.”

Meanwhile in another development, the Penang government through Penang Development Corporation (PDC) signed a memorandum of understanding with iHeal Health Sdn Bhd to develop a medical hub in Bandar Cassia, here.

PDC as the premier development agency of the state government, said Chow, is developing another state-owned land in Bandar Cassia, Batu Kawan here, with an area of over 6,000 acres complete with various development components, to develop a third satellite town as implemented in Bayan Town Baru and Bandar Seberang Jaya.

– Bernama