PENANG: Infrastructure works on the Penang Light Rail Transit (LRT) Mutiara Line and the expansion of Penang International Airport (PIA) are set to commence simultaneously, a move aimed at reducing public inconvenience, according to Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow. Discussions are underway between the project owners to facilitate this dual undertaking.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the federal government assumed control of the Penang LRT Mutiara Line project from the state in March, following Cabinet approval. MRT Corp, a company owned by the Minister of Finance Incorporated, has been appointed as the project developer and asset owner, with implementation planned through an open tender process.

The LRT project will cover approximately 29 kilometers, featuring 20 stations, including key interchanges at Komtar and Penang Sentral. In parallel, the PIA expansion project, projected to cost around RM1 billion, has commenced in stages and is expected to be completed by 2028.

Chow emphasized the importance of collaboration between project stakeholders, urging them to coordinate schedules to optimize efficiency. Both projects fall under federal jurisdiction, with MRT Corp managing the LRT and Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB) overseeing the airport expansion.

Preliminary civil and structural works for the LRT are anticipated to start soon, with SRS Consortium invited as the selected tenderer for this phase. The consortium will handle the civil and structural aspects of the first segment, which extends from Silicon Island to Komtar.

Chow encouraged participation in the open tender for the rail system’s engineering, procurement, design, construction, testing, commissioning, and maintenance. The state government is actively collaborating with the federal government to ensure the project’s timely progression, including smooth land acquisition processes involving state-owned, private, and Penang Development Corporation (PDC) lands.

Meetings have been held with MRT Corp and the Ministry of Transport to address project details, including depots, land acquisition, and station planning. Another meeting with the Ministry of Transport is scheduled to continue these discussions, with land acquisition proceeding without hurdles.