THE Penang Hill cable car project is striving to preserve the surrounding greenery as much as possible as it makes steady progress in the building work, with overall completion reaching 4.3% as of Feb 8.
State infrastructure, transport and digital committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari said both state leaders and project stakeholders had stressed their commitment to protect Penang Hill’s natural landscape during the process.
“We are trying to save as many trees as possible.
“The construction process reflects our commitment to protect the environment,” he was quoted as saying by state publisher Buletin Mutiara.
The Penang Hill cable car project is poised to elevate the status of Penang Hill and the Penang Botanic Gardens.
Conceived by Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) in partnership with Hartasuma Sdn Bhd through a public-private partnership, the project features a cable car system supplied by Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH, an Austria-based company in ropeway technology.
The RM245mil project will have three stations – Garden Station, Turn Station and Hill Station.
The 2.73km cable car ride, which ascends from Penang Botanic Gardens to the peak of Penang Hill about 700m above sea level, will take under 10 minutes.
Hartasuma Group was awarded a 30-year concession to design, finance, build and operate it.
PHC general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng said rather than cutting trees based on initial analysis, towers would be built first and evaluated on site.
“This allows us to decide whether to cut, trim or avoid cutting trees altogether.
“It is an extra effort and investment by Hartasuma, showing dedication to preserving the environment,” said Cheok.
According to a media statement by PHC, initial activities focused on caisson work at the Garden Station, Hill Station and several towers, alongside significant site preparation efforts.
“Everything is on track and PHC is closely monitoring the project,” Zairil noted.
Testing and commissioning are expected to follow after the project is completed, with the cable car system ready to open in 2027.
Cheok also underscored the complexities of building a cable car system, due to its unique design and planning requirements.
“We are working very closely with Hartasuma and are fortunate to have strong support from the state government and various agencies.
“Their attention to detail ensures everything is done according to procedures,” he said.
Regular site visits and collaborative meetings have been integral to the project’s progress, he elaborated.
“Every step of the way, we conduct proper site meetings to make informed decisions,” Cheok added.
