GEORGE TOWN: The state government has been urged to be transparent and explain to the people what is happening to the undersea tunnel project, which may be replaced by an elevated bridge.

       Penang MCA chief Datuk Tan Teik Cheng said the state government used a 3.7 acre land to exchange for a RM305mil feasibility study and detailed design (FSDD) report on the undersea tunnel and three highways.

       “It has been eight years since the feasibility study and detailed design report was commissioned, and until today, the state government has not even seen it.

       “And now, we are told that an elevated bridge may be the third link,” he said yesterday.

       Tan was responding to The Star’s front-page report on the possibility of an elevated bridge replacing the undersea tunnel as the third link.

       “The state government has also signed an agreement to swap 110 acres for the undersea tunnel and three roads.

       “If the deal now is to build a bridge which is half the cost, how will the land swap proceed? The state government has to be transparent and explain this,” he added.

       In response to this, state public works, utilities and flood mitigation committee chairman Zairil Khir Johari dispelled talk that the state had given any land for the feasibility study.

       “The land will only be given when we approve the feasibility study,” he said in a text message.

       Zairil said there was also no feasibility study being carried out for the newly proposed bridge yet, and the feasibility study was only for the undersea tunnel.