Flyovers for easy access, exit
Published on: Saturday, November 28, 2015
Kota Kinabalu: After years of planning and what appeared to be hushed development works behind the Aeropod walls along Jalan Kapayan-Tanjung Aru, ground was finally broken on Friday for two flyovers leading into and out of the re-development project of the Tanjung Aru Train Station."It is a very significant event today. If you ply along Kapayan Road, you don't really feel there is anything happening behind these walls. But I think today, you can see what had been going on inside these walls," said Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Joseph Pairin Kitingan.Earlier, he had witnessed the ground-breaking ceremony together with Mayor Datuk Abidin Madingkir for the two flyovers, 841 metres and 318 metres respectively, set to be completed by early 2018.
ADVERTISEMENT
Pairin, who is also Infrastructure Development Minister, said he had been monitoring the project and expressed his gratitude to Aeropod's developer SP Setia for moving aggressively and taking into account the sense of urgency the State government had put into the project, especially with the construction of the new State Railway Department headquarters."Having gone through the facilities which are to be completed by next year and up to 2018, we can already feel the difference, the environment, ambience and the excitement surrounding this mega project," he said.Aeropod, a mixed development anchored by the railway hub of Kota Kinabalu, is SP Setia's maiden project in the city, spanning 60 acres of prime land and will feature boutique retail and offices, small office versatile office (SOVOs), retail lots, a shopping and entertainment mall, food and beverage outlet, high-rise residential towers and hotels.Approximately one third of the 60 acres is dedicated to the railway system and public spaces, while around 40 acres have been allocated for development of the other components.
ADVERTISEMENT
The project is set to transform the city and is one of the first projects to be sanctioned as part of the State government-sponsored Sabah Development Corridor.Pairin said the State government is constantly placing efforts in understanding the specific needs of investors so that the right infrastructure and conducive environment can be put in place, making it easier for those who wish to do business in Sabah.
ADVERTISEMENT
"These two flyovers are excellent examples of adding value for investors as a well-conceived traffic system which is integral to such a massive development project as Aeropod. "The addition of these flyovers will ensure good, quick and safe accessibility via private and public transport, giving seamless connection to the external urban arterial road of Jalan Kapayan," he said.Upon completion, both flyovers will be able to facilitate easy and safe access into and exit from both general directions from the city centre and the Kota Kinabalu International Airport to the new and upcoming Tanjung Aru Train Station, which is scheduled for completion by middle of next year.Besides these two flyovers, plans are also underway to construct two more flyovers, bringing the total construction of all four flyovers to RM72.5 million.The project is expected to be fully completed in 2022 with a gross development value of RM1.8 billion and approximately 3.8 million sq ft of gross floor area, including an approximately 300,000 sq ft lifestyle retail mall.In keeping with the State government's requirements, the project is 100 per cent locally-commissioned.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
