by BERNAMA/ pic by BERNAMA

THE Penang government is planning to transform the Bayan Lepas area from the shoreline of the Queensbay Mall shopping complex to the Sultan Abdul Halim Muadzam Shah Bridge with the theme “Linear Waterfront”.

Chief Minister (CM) Chow Kon Yeow (picture) said the Penang Development Corp (PDC) as the state government development agency, plans to transform the area from Queensbay Mall along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Highway to the bridge, which overlooks Jerejak Island.

He said PDC would be issuing a request for proposal (RFP) for the integrated development with a gross development value of RM1 billion on an area of approximately 60ha and a land reclamation proposal.

“The purpose of the development is to strengthen the Bayan Baru conurbation, creating a viable new development area and adding to the state government’s land bank for high-impact development projects.

“The RFP is scheduled to be called on July 31 and the deadline is Sept 30,” he said at a press conference attended by PDC GM Datuk Mohd Bazid Abdul Kahar yesterday.

Chow, who is also PDC chairman, said the project would be divided into several phases, with the PDC having identified hotels, restaurants and commercial healthcare centres, among others.

He said the project would provide comprehensive infrastructure and public transportation proposals, create recreational and tourism areas, provide facilities for the people and redevelop the Penang City Council food complex as well as anglers’ jetty and centre.

“It is estimated that the redevelopment project will be better-planned, modern and complete with better facilities, so that the economic activities of the people involved will be enhanced and diversified once the development is completed,” he said.

He said bidders must adhere to local authority requirements at the planning and implementation stages, noting that a key criterion in assessing the project is balancing the needs of the area in a holistic way.

He added that the implementation schedule planning would be finalised during the RFP negotiation stage.