THE Sabah government has designated the Trans Borneo Railway project as part of the backbone of the state’s transport system, says Datuk Ewon Benedick.
The Deputy Chief Minister III said a feasibility study is underway by the Transport Ministry to assess the potential for a rail network that would link major towns and interior areas to ease congestion and reduce reliance on road transport while assisting in economic growth.
Ewon, who is the state Industrial Development, Entrepreneur and Transport Minister, said that the rail system was part of Sabah’s long-term plan for integrated transport.
“The Trans Borneo Railway is not just about moving people and goods more efficiently – it is about reshaping Sabah’s connectivity for the future.
“By reducing dependence on roads, we can ease congestion in our cities and open up new economic opportunities across the state,” he told the Sabah legislative assembly yesterday.
Ewon was replying to a question from Datuk Abdul Ghani Yassin (GRS-Nabawan), who wanted to know the state government’s plans to resolve traffic congestion in major towns like Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan, Keningau and Tawau.
Apart from the railway plans, Ewon said the state government was rolling out the Sabah Sustainable Transport Master Plan (SSTMP).
This is a comprehensive blueprint for short, medium and long-term strategies.
“The plan emphasises integration of land, sea and river transport into a cohesive system designed to tackle rapid urbanisation and rising private vehicle ownership,” he added.
