IPOH: There is a need to reevaluate and restructure the Kea Farm area to alleviate the traffic congestion woes at Cameron Highlands, says a non-governmental organisation (NGO).
Regional Environmental Awareness Cameron Highlands (REACH) president A. Dilip Martin said Kea Farm, which is a popular tourist spot for local produce, street food and souvenirs, was the main contributor to the congestion issue there.
"Kea Farm needs to be replanned, restructured and redeveloped.
"The Public Works Department (JKR) should be finding solutions to this problem instead of building a new road, which will only create the same congestion within a 3km stretch," he told The Star.
"If proper parking facilities were provided at Kea Farm, it would ease the burden on tourists visiting Cameron Highlands and significantly reduce traffic jams," he said.
"If the businesses at Kea Farm were to be relocated to a place with lots of facilities, including a multi-storey parking building, tourists would still go there.
"Traffic flow on the main road will be better and will no longer disturb the daily socio-economic activities of the local residents," he added.
During the Pahang state assembly sitting in September last year (Sept 2024), local government committee chairman Datuk Mohammad Fakhruddin Mohd Ariff said that a RM122mil road and bypass project in two locations in Cameron Highlands would alleviate the congestion woes at the popular tourist destination.
Dilip Martin said folk at the highlands do not agree with the proposed construction of a bypass road in Tanah Rata and the creation of a loop road system at Kea Farm.
"Surveys conducted by residents’ associations and NGOs found that the majority of stakeholders disagreed with the plan.
"The Works Ministry should have conducted a social impact assessment before moving forward with the project," he said.
"Many folk here believe the project will not resolve the congestion woes," he added.
When asked whether new developments like a multi-storey parking complex would impact the environment, Dilip Martin said while there would be some effect, there could be some latest engineering and construction technologies that could minimise the impact.
