Physical work on project to start next year

The Sungai Pinang project is aimed at reducing floods in the inner city.

PHYSICAL work on the Sungai Pinang flood mitigation project in Penang will begin early next year.

State local government committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said the Federal Government project included the deepening and widening of the river, building a flood wall and several pedestrian crossings plus bridge upgrades.

“It is hoped that this will assist in reducing flooding in the inner city, ” he said during a press conference at Masjid Acheh Kebun Lama in Datuk Keramat recently.

The RM50mil project is phase one of the overall project which costs about RM650mil.

Jagdeep, who is also Datuk Keramat assemblyman, said the project’s concept design was presented and approved in November last year.

“Now a detailed design is underway.

“The Drainage and Irrigation Department is expected to appoint a contractor soon to conduct soil investigation, which is expected to be completed within three months.

“After the soil investigation report is completed, the consultant will take into account the findings and make modifications to the design if necessary.

“The tender for the project is expected to be called in the fourth quarter of this year or early next year after the Drainage and Irrigation Department headquarters inspects the design, ” he said.

Jagdeep said the project falls under phase one which covers two rivers – Sungai Pinang and Sungai Jelutong.

“For Sungai Pinang, the work will include construction of a flood wall, river improvement initiatives, bridge upgrading work and pedestrian bridge upgrading in Jalan Langkawi and Lorong Kulit.

“A road will be constructed in Jalan Kampung Rawa and there will be river corridor improvement and beautification.

“For Sungai Jelutong, the work will involve flood wall construction and other related works.

“The project will take about four years to be completed, ” he said.

It was reported in January that the Federal Government had approved an allocation of RM50mil for the Sungai Pinang flood mitigation project as part of the first rolling plan of the 12th Malaysia Plan for 2021.

The overall cost for the project is around RM650mil, out of which RM300mil will cover the expenditure for the physical work.