KAPIT: A host of problems have emerged here following the completion of a new road which, ironically, provides better connectivity.
Chief among them is the growing congestion in the town and a pressing need for a bus terminal to handle the increase in bus services.
State Transport Minister Datuk Seri Lee Kim Shin, who is aware of the traffic and transportation issues, came here on Tuesday to see the situation and proposed solutions.
According to Lee, the need for a bus terminal has become more urgent after the completion of the Sibu-Kapit Road which has led to more bus services between the two towns.
He also saw the need to create a satellite town to reduce the congestion that is now concentrated in the town centre.
“The congestion is because there is only one way to get in and out of the town with only one traffic lights junction.
“Besides that, the narrow single-lane road is insufficient. So, to overcome the problem, a satellite town could be developed to reduce the focus on one place,” Lee said.
Before that, he attended a briefing at the Kapit Resident’s Office where he later stressed that the problem of congestion in the town is a critical issue that needs to be addressed immediately to avoid more problems in the future.
In the meantime, according to him, the river transport system can still be utilised even though most people use the road to get in and out of Kapit.
In this regard, Lee recommended to the Kapit Divisional Development Committee to explore the potential of using the river to raw materials and for ecotourism.
Thereafter, Lee and his entourage visited the proposed site for a bus terminal at Jalan Kapit/Song.
He was also briefed by the Land and Survey Department on the suitability of the proposed location where shops will also be built.
Residential houses will also be built around the area to ensure that the bus terminal will not be isolated.
Lee then continued his visit to the Nanga Tulie Coal Camp, Batang Rejang to take a closer look at the coal unloading operation there.
With him were Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Dr Jerip Susil, Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Native Law and Customs) Jefferson Jamit Unyat and Kapit Division Resident Nyurak Keti.
