16
‘Speed up approval for refurbishment
of bus stops’
RAPIDPENANG is urging the
Penang state government to
hasten approval of its proposal
to refurbish and improve the 303
bus stops in the state for better
accessibility especially for disabled
users.
RapidPenang chief executive
officer Azhar Ahmad said the com-
pany had ordered 200 additional
buses that are disabled-friendly
and allow wheelchair users to
board.
“But Penang does not have the
facilities to support the use of these
buses as its bus stops and stations
do not have the required ramps,” he
said.
As such, RapidPenang had
theSun
earlier in the year proposed to
take up a lease of all bus stops and
stations in Penang to refurbish
them to be disabled-friendly
and more accessible to senior
citizens.
“We proposed this to the
previous state government, and the
current government in March but
have yet to get a response,” Azhar
said.
Under the proposal, RapidPenang
will invest between RM3 million
and RM4 million in the upgrading
and refurbishment of 60 bus stops
under a first phase.
“We will then sell advertisement
space at bus stops and stations to
recover our investment,” Azhar
said.
Work on the state’s remaining
stops and stations will continue
under phase two.
| MONDAY DECEMBER 22 2008
The company will also be in
charge of maintaining the stops,
Azhar said.
“We really need the political
will to support us in this so that
we can make it a reality and make
RapidPenang public transportation
accessible to everyone.”
Upgrading work can start within
six months of approval being
obtained, he added.
The 200 new disabled-friendly
buses will arrive in stages from May
next year. RapidPenang has also
recently transferred 30 RapidKL
buses for use on new routes in
Seberang Prai, Azhar told a press
conference after a high tea function
with the media last week.
He also announced a new
route between Weld Quay and
the Penang International Airport
effective Jan 1.