PUTATAN: The steering committee for the Sabah Pan Borneo Highway project will hold more meetings to discuss and address issues hindering its construction progress, says Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi (pic).
The Works Minister said the presence of representatives from the Finance Ministry, Economy Ministry and relevant Sabah government agencies have enabled detailed discussions, Bernama reported.
“Key topics discussed included the project’s progress, the challenges faced and proposed solutions to ensure the highway is built according to the required standards, timeframes and costs,” Nanta told reporters after a working visit to inspect the progress of Phase 1 of the project at Work Packages 7 and 8 here yesterday.
He expressed confidence that face-to-face discussions in the steering committee meetings could resolve the highway’s construction issues more effectively.
Regarding his working visit, he said such field visits are a routine ministry initiative to comprehensively monitor project progress, identify challenges and address any issues on-site that require immediate resolution.
“This proactive approach is essential to prevent delays in the project and to ensure no projects are classified as ‘sick’.
“This work package is part of the strategic Kota Kinabalu Outer Ring Road, a key link connecting the southwest to the northwest of Sabah.
“This infrastructure is not only crucial for the state’s primary road network, but it is also expected to have a significant socio-economic impact, boosting the state’s socio-economic growth, stimulating industrial investment and enhancing connectivity between urban and rural areas,” he added.
Phase 1 involves the construction of 706km of road and is being carried out in two stages.
Phase 1A covers a distance of 318km and has an on-site completion rate of 86.53%.
“Phase 1B, covering 388km, is progressing according to plan, with the physical progress at 12.27%,” Nanta said.
