GEORGE TOWN, Aug 6 (Bernama) — The Penang government has requested Hartasuma Sdn Bhd, the concessionaire for the Penang Hill cable car project, to conduct a feasibility study on a proposed new cable car route linking the Botanical Gardens to Gurney Bay.
Chief Minister Chow Kon Yeow said the study is currently in its early stages and that the state government will evaluate whether the new route is viable for future implementation.
”Gurney Bay is another iconic tourist attraction, therefore it makes sense to connect the Botanical Gardens with Gurney Bay via cable car as well.
”We want to see if it is feasible to have a cable car connection. This will be a seamless one,” he told reporters after witnessing the signing ceremony for the financing facility of the Penang Hill Cable Car development between Hartasuma and Bank Pembangunan Malaysia Bhd (BPMB).
He noted that the distance between the Botanical Gardens and Gurney Bay is estimated at around 2.5 kilometres, adding that if proven viable, the proposed route could become another significant attraction in the state’s tourism landscape.
However, Chow said no final decision has been made regarding the implementing company, as the proposal remains at the study stage.
In April last year, Hartasuma, a leading Malaysian homegrown pioneer in the local rail industry with almost 30 years of experience, formally entered into a contract with Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH, a global market leader in the field of ropeway engineering, for the much-anticipated Penang Hill cable car project.
The cable car project was successfully awarded to Hartasuma through a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) on a Design, Finance, Build, Operate and Transfer basis, as announced on Dec 14, 2022, with Doppelmayr providing the cable car system.
Designed to carry up to 1,400 passengers per hour in each direction, Penang Hill Cable Car will provide a 10-minute journey from the Penang Botanical Gardens to the hill’s summit, climbing 700m above sea level in under 10 minutes.
The cable car project will cover a 2.73-kilometre route from the Penang Botanical Gardens to the top of the hill, with three main stations, namely the Garden Station at the foot of the hill, the Turn Station in the middle of the route and the Hill Station at the top.
The project also includes the construction of a multi-storey car park, a commercial plaza in front of the Botanical Gardens Department as well as a special bus parking area.
— BERNAMA
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