THE Penang Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit (LRT) project is progressing steadily as works are being carried out at various locations on the island.
Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan conducted a working visit to several key construction sites on the island to check on its progress.
“This visit to the Penang Mutiara Line LRT focuses on the progress of the construction work on the structural bridge as well as the readiness for implementing the high-capacity public transportation project which is expected to enhance the level of interconnectivity and public mobility,” he shared on social media after his May 18 visit.
The Mutiara Line project official Facebook page said Amir Hamzah was given updates on the project’s traffic management plan, the relocation of affected hawkers and the challenges faced by the construction team.
He visited the Sungai Nibong Pesta site, which will house the train stabling depot, before visiting several project sites at Komtar, Macallum, Bandar Sri Pinang, the Penang International Airport (PIA) and Silicon Island.
Amir Hamzah was joined by Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Zarif Hashim and was briefed on the progress of construction works by Mutiara Line project director Azmi Abd Rahman.
Spanning 29.67km with 20 stations and two provisional stations, the Mutiara Line – which commenced construction last year − is expected to begin operations in December 2031.
The RM16.8bil Mutiara Line LRT project has been revised to include a 6km cross-sea link from Macallum to Penang Sentral in Butterworth.
The LRT bridge’s published specifications show that vertical clearance will be over 60m.
Data from the public inspection exercise shows that this bridge will have two main navigation spans, each 450m in length (distance between two main support piers).
This will create a two-way navigational corridor for large ships to pass below, and even Penang’s ferry passengers will get to pass below the bridge every time.
Penang Sentral will serve as a key mainland interchange integrating KTM Bhd rail, buses and ferry services.
New stations will be added at Penang Sentral and Bagan Luar, while a secondary depot will be built at Tapak Pesta in Sungai Dua, mainly for train stabling.
