BUTTERWORTH: The soft opening of the RM2.9 billion Penang Sentral public transport hub will take place on Thursday.
Owned and managed by the Malaysian Resources Corporation Berhad (MRCB) – whose executive vice-president Datuk Dell Akbar Khan took the media on a walkabout of the sprawling facility – it shares similar properties with its sister hub, KL Sentral.
It is expected to be the catalyst for better management of the public transport sector as well as providing a centralised location for it.
Built on 22.69 acres, the project began about eight years ago under an integrated mix development concept.
It will have the Penang Sentral terminal, a mall, an office tower and a business hotel, as well as be equipped with service apartments.
Economist Chan Leng Yuen expects the project to be part of Butterworth’s urban renewal efforts.
Dell Akhbar said Penang Sentral had completed its linkages to the express bus routes, the KTM rail service, the cross-channel ferry services, taxis and e-hailing services.
Eventually, more connectivity will materialise with the help of the proposed water taxis which will ply the water between the area and the island.
He added that there are 600 parking bays to accommodate those who just wish to visit the island without having to deal with congestion issues.
Dell Akhbar said it was also the second place to offer an electronic ticketing system for express bus services, whereby tickets could be purchased through the use of touch screen kiosks.
MRCB group managing director Mohd Imran Mohamad Salim said the soft opening of the facility marks another milestone in the nation’s development of its transportation infrastructure.
“We are confident that the hub will not only contribute towards making life easier for the commuters but it will also provide a significant boost to the state’s economy.”
