MIRI: A new bus terminal in this division had been planned, said Transport Minister Datuk Lee Kim Shin on Monday (Apr 12).
He added that a site for the project, included in Miri Master Plan 2021-2030, had been identified. It is located at Jalan Cahaya and Miri By-pass.
“The cost to build a new terminal bus is estimated around RM25 million,” he said.
During the launching of Miri Smart City — Proof of Concept today by Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg, Lee requested for state government funding.
“I hope our Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari will consider favourably our request, especially for the funding totalling RM25 million for the new bus terminal in Miri,” he said.
With the availability of funding, Lee hoped the project could take off as soon as possible within this year.
The minister also commended Abang Johari’s brilliant idea of initiating the RM1 flat rate bus fare subsidy programme, which helped ease the financial burden of people in Sarawak during the Covid-19 pandemic.
“Overall, the response to this programme is overwhelmingly successful for the state including Miri City, as evident by the number of ridership before and after the implementation of the RM1.00 Flat Rate Bus Fare programme,” he pointed out.
The cumulative number of ridership for the state on 50 routes increased in Kuching, Sibu, Sarikei and Miri from 12,657 in May 2020 to a total cumulative number of 1,577,415 passengers in February 2021, Lee explained.
“Similarly for Miri, the total number of ridership was 7,823 in May, 2020. It cumulatively increased to 517,344 passengers in February 2021,” he added.
Lee said that since this programme was very well received by the public, bus transport infrastructure such as bus shelters or stops should be improved. There should be wider pedestrian pavements, planting of trees for shade and installation CCTV cameras along bus corridors to continue attract people to use bus transport as the preferred alternative mode of public transport.
“In this respect, my ministry will work closely with the Sarawak Economic Planning Unit (EPU), Ministry of Local Government and Housing, local authorities and other agencies to carry out these projects under the state’s 12th Malaysia Plan,” he said.
