IPOH: Two consortia have been shortlisted by the Railway Assets Corporation (RAC) to develop the Ipoh Railway Integrated Development (iRide) plan, says Anthony Loke.
The Transport Minister said RAC is now evaluating the submissions following the request for proposal (RFP), and the Transport Ministry is expecting the project to be awarded to the master developer in the fourth quarter of this year.
“The RFP is proceeding smoothly, as both the consortia are big companies in the country that are interested to develop the RAC land at the back of the Ipoh Railway Station.
“The area will be branded as Ipoh Sentral,” he said at a press conference after officiating the DAP Perak Convention here yesterday.
Loke said the development encompasses an integrated approach, and is expected to serve as a catalyst for growth in Ipoh.
“Ipoh’s railway station, besides being a heritage building, is also a busy station due to the frequent ETS services from Kuala Lumpur to Ipoh,” he said, adding that the ministry would also try to increase the train frequencies further.
“The Ipoh station has become very busy, and recently, RAC has been carrying out renovations to provide better comfort to passengers.
“A certain area has been renovated to serve as a temporary waiting area for passengers,” he said.
The iRide plan, encompassing 78ha around the Ipoh railway station, was launched on Oct 10, 2019.
The collaborative project between RAC and Menteri Besar Incorporated (MB Inc) aims to transform 27ha into a major transport hub.
The development will be divided into various segments, including affordable housing, hotels, educational institutions, commercial space, green areas and mixed-use zones to ensure a balanced and comprehensive approach.
