UNDERSEA TUNNEL NOT ABANDONED; TECHNICAL MATTERS STILL BEING REFINED - CHOW

GEORGE TOWN, Nov 14 (Bernama) -- The state government has never described the Penang undersea tunnel as an abandoned project, but maintains that it remains active, with study work currently underway.

Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the state government received a presentation from the companies involved in the project at the State Executive Council (MMK) meeting last Wednesday to review the issues raised and the steps needed to address them.

“The project also involves the expansion of Penang Port, which affects the proposed alignment. If a bridge were to be built as an alternative, its height would need to be considered, especially given the close proximity of the Royal Malaysian Air Force (RMAF) Butterworth Air Base.

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“These are technical matters that are still being refined. Moreover, under the master agreement, the study work has not yet been completed, and we cannot proceed with the project until all parties are satisfied with the proposed alignment design and financial arrangements,” he said at the state assembly sitting today.

He said this in response to a supplementary question from Azmi Alang (PN-Telok Ayer Tawar) regarding the status of the Penang undersea tunnel project.

On May 21, the state government announced that it was considering a proposal to change the project design from an undersea tunnel to a bridge across the Penang Straits.

State Infrastructure, Transport and Digital Committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said the feasibility study was finalised in 2023, covering the viability of the new design, namely, a bridge, or other alternative designs.

The 6.5-kilometre undersea tunnel project, which would connect Gurney Drive to Bagan Ajam on the mainland, is part of the Penang Transport Master Plan (PTMP).

-- BERNAMA