ALOR SETAR - The federal government’s plan to upgrade the Kuala Kedah Jetty Terminal here will be able to boost the local economy and provide tourists travelling to Langkawi with more comfortable facilities.
Pakatan Harapan (PH) candidate for the Kubang Rotan state seat, Mohd Asmirul Anuar Aris, said in addition to providing the people with long-term benefits, the project would also help boost the tourism sector in the district.
"According to plan, there will be more systematic departure and arrival facilities there (the Kuala Kedah Jetty Terminal) and business space for petty traders and hawkers,” he told Bernama here today.
Meanwhile, several local residents, when met Bernama believe that the long-awaited project will raise the image of Kuala Kedah town among tourists and open up business opportunities for them.
Food hawker Abdul Wahab Abdul Rahman, 63, said he hoped that the project would provide facilities for traders around the Kuala Kedah area to carry out business activities at the jetty terminal.
"There were many shops here (at the Kuala Kedah Jetty Terminal) four or five years ago, but now there are only mine left. Hopefully this project will help the traders revive their businesses,” he said.
Public sector worker Faiezzudin Shah Shaaran, 33, meanwhile, hoped that the upgrading project would include work to beautify the surrounding areas and widen the road to the jetty to reduce congestion, especially during school holidays and festive seasons.
"This will ensure better traffic flow in the area. There should also be sufficient parking spaces provided at the jetty terminal,” he said.
Taxi driver Mahmud Yaacob, 68, believes that easing traffic by widening the narrow road to the jetty terminal would encourage more tourists to use public transportation, like taxis.
"The road there is narrow, and it will get congested and become too crowded with vehicles during school holidays or festive seasons. I hope the project will take this matter into account,” he said.
Last May, the Transport Ministry announced the implementation of three projects in Kedah with a total estimated cost of more than RM500 million in an effort to enhance transport service facilities in the northern region.
The projects include the upgrading of the Kuala Kedah Jetty Terminal which was in the final stages of preparing to advertise the tender in order to appoint a contractor.
According to Transport Minister Anthony Loke, the major scope of the Kuala Kedah Jetty Terminal upgrading project is demolishing and building a new terminal with a green technology concept that could accommodate up to 3,000 passengers at a time, compared to the existing capacity of only 800 passengers. - BERNAMA