RESIDENTS of Lebuh Katz in George Town can look forward to brighter days as their back lanes are now being upgraded as well as lit up by seven newly-installed LED street lamps.
Pengkalan Kota assemblyman Daniel Gooi Zi Sen said the upgrading of back lanes in George Town outside the Unesco World Heritage Site was implemented by the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) last year.
Recently, state Local Government, Housing, Town and Country Planning Committee chairman Jagdeep Singh Deo said under the ‘Repopulation George Town’ programme, MBPP planned to upgrade 9km of back lanes and 10 acres of green empty spaces in the George Town Heritage Site in stages over five years to beautify and maintain the elements of heritage in the city.
“If the back lanes are properly done up and well lit at night, they can be used as a community space, a green lung or a parking space,” Gooi said as he showed reporters the street lamps that had been put up at Lebuh Katz back lanes.
The cost of the erecting the seven street lamps over the 200m stretch of back lanes was RM41,000.
“Back lanes can also be used to hold events, like the one adopted by M Summit where a food carnival was hosted by the property developer last year.
“MBPP will also resurface the Lebuh Katz back lanes. But we need to coordinate with TNB (Tenaga Nasional Bhd) or PBA (Penang Water Supply Corporation) so that there won’t be a waste of public funds.”
MBPP councillor Wong Yuee Harng, who was also present, said MBPP would consider any request to upgrade back lanes in George Town based on two criteria.
The back lane must be connected by two roads and must be accessed by the public, thus Wong said a dead end road does not meet the requirement.
Wong said MBPP had approved a total of 31 street lamps for last year and this year for the island.
Some back lanes had been upgraded with street lamps in areas like Lebuh Victoria (six street lamps), Taman Kampungku in Balik Pulau (five), Jalan Bagan Jermal behind Mutiara Villa Condo (four) and Jalan Sir Ibrahim/Jalan Cantik (two).
The areas where back lanes have been approved to be upgraded with street lamps are Jalan Hj Ali (four), Jalan Jelutong near Caltex (two) and Lebuhraya Nibong (one).
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix by Chan Kok Kuan