Penang Botanic Gardens To Stay Open During Penang Hill Cable Car Construction

GEORGE TOWN, Aug 21 (Bernama) -- The Penang Botanic Gardens will remain open to the public throughout the construction period of the Penang Hill cable car project, which is expected to be completed by June 2026.

Penang Hill Corporation (PHC), in a statement today, said that during the construction phase, only the existing hawker centre, the parking lot opposite the Penang Botanic Gardens Department’s office, and the parking area outside the gardens will be temporarily closed to the public.

During this period, visitors are encouraged to use the parking facilities at the Youth Park or Arulmigu Balathandayuthapani Temple, which are within a short walking distance to the gardens, it said.

“PHC will continue to work with the Penang Island City Council (MBPP) to provide more parking spaces for the convenience of visitors, especially during weekends and public holidays,” said the statement.

PHC said that the hawker centre will be relocated to a temporary site next to the Penang Botanic Garden’s office at the end of September to allow hawkers to continue their businesses without disruption.

The statement also said that the site of the hawker centre will be transformed into a multi-storey parking and commercial complex. 

Once completed, hawkers will move into the new facility, which will offer modern amenities for visitors, hikers, and the local community.

“The safety and the public is of utmost importance. PHC together with Hartasuma Sdn Bhd, the cable car project concessionaire, will ensure that all safety standards and procedures are complied with,” it said.

The highly anticipated project is expected to significantly contribute to the tourism sector in the state, bringing socio-economic benefits to local residents.

According to PHC, the cable car project will address the parking problems and traffic congestion along Jalan Kebun Bunga while improving public facilities for visitors to Penang Botanic Gardens.

The RM245 million Bukit Bendera Cable Car project features a 2.73-kilometre route and includes three stations.

The cable car alignment will start from the garden station located at the existing Economic Garden (Taman Ekonomi) within the Penang Botanic Gardens and will end at the summit of Penang Hill, behind the Penang Hill Police Station.

-- BERNAMA