RM16.5 Million Sungai Melaka Tourist Monorail Launched

Oct 20 (Bernama) -- The RM16.5 million Sungai Melaka tourist monorail connecting Taman Rempah to the Hang Tuah Station in Jalan Bunga Raya was launched by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Ali Rustam Wednesday. This latest tourism-aimed project uses green technology from China and it covers a 1.6 km route that runs parallel to Sungai Melaka, connecting Hang Tuah Station and the Hang Jebat Station in Taman Rempah. The project was developed by the Historic Melaka City Council.

"The one-coach monorail will be able to ferry 22 passengers each roundtrip which will take about 30 minutes," he told reporters at the official launch of the service in Hang Jebat Station here. The service will be opened to the public Friday. Adults will be charged a fee of RM10 while children will be paying RM2 for the tourist train ride. "I want to express my gratitude to Transport Minister (Datuk Kong Cho Ha) for approving the permit. The project will further drive tourism programmes in Sungai Melaka," Mohd Ali said, adding that the project was significant amid the declaration tonight of Melaka as having achieved developed state status in 2010.

Work on the project started in May 2008 and was completed in June this year by Agibs Engineering Sdn Bhd. The chief minister also said that the Tourism Ministry had approved the second phase of the project costing RM13.2 million which will see the monorail route expanded to Jalan Tun Ali which is close to Jalan Bunga Raya. Work on the second phase is expected to start end of this year with completion next year. This will add on to the service capacity of the monorail to three more coaches and 66 passengers per trip.