MOTORISTS in Ipoh will have to wait six more months before Jalan Raja Ashman Shah, in front of Hospital Raja Permaisuri Bainun, is repaired.
Ipoh mayor Datuk Rumaizi Baharin said the road, which is currently involved in a sewerage upgrading project by Mangkubumi Sdn Bhd, is scheduled to be completed by the middle of the year.
“We understand the public’s frustration with the road conditions, but we can’t start paving the road until Mangkubumi completes the project.
“It will be a waste of money (to pave it now) as the project could involve more digging,” he told reporters after an appreciation ceremony for former Ipoh City Council staff at a hotel here on Wednesday (Jan 18).
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“Aside from waiting for Mangkubumi to complete the project, we also have a lack of funding.
“There are hundreds of kilometres of road under our purview and we don’t have the budget to cover them all," he added.
Rumaizi said the road upgrading project at Jalan Tambun was able to be completed quickly as it was partly funded by Sunway Ipoh City Sdn Bhd.
“We could increase the tax if we want to expedite the project at Jalan Raja Ashman Shah, but we don’t want to burden the public.
"We will try to push for completion of the (sewerage) project in time for Visit Ipoh Year 2023 and Visit Perak Year 2024," he added.
