BINTULU: An Autonomous Rail Rapid Transit (ART) will be built in Bintulu to ease travel from town to the industrial hubs of Tanjung Kidurong.
Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg disclosed that a special allocation was set aside for the construction within the next five years.
“With the various activities taking place in Tanjung Kidurong like the petrochemical hub as well as medical innovation and technology hub, we must improve and upgrade the transportation infrastructure between Bintulu town and Tajung Kidurong.
“The infrastructure must be modernised which is why the ART will be built to facilitate and ensure smooth travel to and from the town and industry hubs.
“Bintulu will be the second place to have the ART after Kuching,” he said this during the Bintulu Development Authority (BDA) Appreciation Night at World Restaurant here last night.
Abang Johari who is also the BDA chairman stated that the modern transportation infrastructure will surely contribute to Bintulu’s tourism industry as well.
“Bintulu is not only an industrial city because we also have the Similajau National Park with its golden beaches that will attract visitors. Bintulu is indeed a gold warehouse,” he said.
At the same time, he thanked BDA on their hard work and determination in providing services to the local community despite the challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The BDA was established 44 years ago as a development agency and local authority for the development of Bintulu through several master plans. From a fishing town with a population of 5,000 to almost 230,000 and it is the fourth largest town in Sarawak.
“The master plans not only serve as a guide for physical development, but also for socio-economic development. This is all for the wellbeing of the people of Bintulu in particular as well as the people of Sarawak in general,” he said.
He noted that the development in Bintulu is set to expand to areas across Kuala Kemena namely in Jepak, adding the development was made possible by the construction of iconic Bintulu-Jepak bridge.
