Finance Minister II Datuk Seri Amir Hamzah Azizan has inspected multiple construction sites on Penang Island for the Mutiara Line Light Rail Transit project, receiving updates on traffic management, hawker relocation and ongoing construction challenges.
Amir Hamzah conducted a working visit on 18 May to assess the RM16.8bil project, which spans 29.67km with 20 stations and two provisional stations across the island. Construction began last year and operations are expected to commence in December 2031.
He was joined by Malaysia Rapid Transit Corporation Sdn Bhd chief executive officer Datuk Zarif Hashim, and was briefed on construction progress by Mutiara Line project director Azmi Abd Rahman.
“This visit focuses on the progress of the structural bridge construction as well as readiness for implementing this high-capacity public transportation project,” Amir Hamzah shared on social media after the visit.
He toured several key sites including Sungai Nibong Pesta, which will house the train stabling depot, as well as locations at Komtar, Macallum, Bandar Sri Pinang, the Penang International Airport and Silicon Island.
The Mutiara Line has been revised to include a 6km cross-sea link from Macallum to Penang Sentral in Butterworth. Published specifications show the LRT bridge will have a vertical clearance exceeding 60m, with two 450m navigational spans creating a two-way corridor for large vessels to pass beneath.
Penang Sentral will serve as a key mainland interchange connecting KTM Bhd rail, bus and ferry services. New stations are planned at Penang Sentral and Bagan Luar, while a secondary depot will be built at Tapak Pesta in Sungai Dua for train stabling.
Source: The Star
