CONSTRUCTION of the light rail transit (LRT) and Pan Island Link 1 (PIL 1) in Penang could begin in June 2020, The Star reports.

Quoting sources, the daily said the Department of Environment gave the RM9.6 billion PIL project the green light last month.

The Transport Ministry is likely to give the RM 9 billion LRT project conditional approval next month.

Tenders for both projects are anticipated to be open for submission to local and international companies by the end of the year.

The two projects fall under the ambitious RM46 billion Penang Transport Master Plan.

The PTMP will be funded by the sale of land on three man-made islands created by Penang South Reclamation (PSR).

The project delivery partner for the PTMP is the SRS Consortium, which is a 60:20:20 joint venture between Gamuda Bhd, Loh Phoy Yen Holdings Sdn Bhd and Ideal Property Development Sdn Bhd.

The proposed LRT links Komtar in the city centre in the north and Penang International Airport in Bayan Lepas in the south of the island.

The report also quoted sources as saying that the National Physical Planning Council could approve the three man-made islands as soon as by the end of this month.

“The tender to reclaim the island will be out in the third quarter of this year. Reclamation work is expected to start in the first quarter of 2020.”

Island A will accommodate industrial and residential projects while state administrative offices and commercial properties will be on Island B.

The third island will house residential properties.

The project will also entail the construction of dams and power infrastructure.

The source said about 75% of the 1,821ha land available on the islands will be up for sale.

Industrial plots of land have also garnered much interest from potential buyers.

Around 30% of the inquiries were for industrial lots. – April 8, 2019.