PRESENT POINT POWER

= = == = =UPDATE: 11^th Feb 2007; 20:57pm

The Samy Vellu in his usual element justified ALL the tolled roads and made the usual comparison with the Top Most Toll in Japan without telling us the high standard of earning in Japan. And he is “bull-shitting” and frightening everyone that you cannot “go to work in KL and it will take you 3 hours”. If he respects the public, we would not have thall these skewed concession agreements. He is conning us instead!.

For those who wake up early and have flexible hours ( 8- 4pm) you can still travel from Ulu Kelang to Subang Jaya (over 30 km) if you start early by 6.15 am and can reached there within 45 – 55 mins Toll Free via Federal Highway. Not 1-1/2 hour Samy and be back also similar times after 4 pm
And now he is smart now, he is pushing all the announcement on the toll rtates back to the Cabinet. And it WOULD be interesting to see if the Toll Rate for the SMART STORM 3km motorway tunnel had NOT been fixed and increased for the next 30 years in the concession agreement with . Syarikat Konsesi Smart Sdn Bhd, the concessionaire of the motorway tunnel.

see also his explanation of the MMR2 RM70 Million in a related post (as reported in the STAR, Today, 11th Feb 07)

= = == = = =

Motorist who prefers not to pay tolls can have the choice of using alternate roads. In stressing this Datuk Samy Vellu, the Works Minister said that the tolled road projects are decided by the cabinet taking into consideration the people’s comfort and convenience in cutting travel time.

Datuk Samy Vellu, the Works Minister, "bull-shitting" and telling stories again; in a TV3 report.

“There are alternate roads, so many alternate roads. They complain to me that a highway has crossed and potong a Kampung into two; so we have done an underpass already”

“According to us, we respect the public. That is why we want to bring about a lot of change in the country. But every change, there is something to be paid; everywhere in every part of the world. You go to China you pay a very high toll; you go Thailand, you pay a very high toll; you go to Japan you pay the TOP MOST Toll in the world.

In the N-S expressway; if all these roads are not built; today you leave your house in KL you cannot go to work. It will take you 3 hours to go to work. A person will spent 3 hours going and coming from work. 1-1/2 hours to go to go and 1-1/2 to come - 20 km or 25 km. Now everything is open, all the roads provide all the facilities.
He said this after announcing the toll in the Outer Ring Road in Butterworth is now postponed to Feb 20^th, 5 days later than scheduled. This was due to objections by locals including State BN leaders seeking a reasonable toll rate. Appeals letters were sent to Samy Velly, PM Abdullah and Penang Chief Minister for delay in the implementation. See SUN's Report BN leaders want reasonable toll rates at Sg Nyior Plaza H E R E
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February 11, 2007 16:35 PM

Smart Tunnel Toll Rate After Cabinet Nod - Samy Vellu
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 11 (Bernama) -- The toll rates for the newly-built Smart tunnel will be announced only after the cabinet approved the proposed rates, Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu said Sunday. Declining to reveal the proposed rates, the minister said his ministry would submit a cabinet paper on the rates before making public. "It has not been decided yet as my ministry has to put up a paper to the cabinet. Also, I've to talk to the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department before I make any disclosure on the rates," he told reporters after presenting cash incentives to 580 Tamil school pupils who excelled in last year's Standard Six Assessment Test (UPSR). "Everything concerning toll rates will be decided by the cabinet. "It is not my own decision to increase, charge extra or reduce toll," Samy Vellu said. Drainage and Irrigation Department director-general Datuk Keizrul Abdullah said yesterday motorists would have a month toll-free ride along the tunnel expected to open end of next month. The Storm Water Management and Road Tunnel (Smart) was built to channel excess floodwater away from the city. On Tamil school development, Samy Vellu, who is also MIC president, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had agreed to build new buildings for 16 Tamil schools costing RM18 million. He said 22 fully government-aided Tamil schools would be rebuilt under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. Earlier, in his speech, Samy Vellu said he was proud of the increasing number of high achievers from Tamil schools in the UPSR examination every year. "If possible, I want all Indian students to opt for a professional career. In fact, my vision is to see two professionals in every Indian family," he added.

= = == =

February 10, 2007 18:59 PM

Only Half-a-kilometre Of Drilling Left For SMART Tunnel

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Only half- a-kilometre of drilling work remains for the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) Project, said Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) Director-General Datuk Paduka Keizrul Abdullah. He said the drilling machine "Tuah" was currently operating northward of the city and would penetrate the area in front of the flood retention pond in Kg Berembang, Ampang, at the end of March or early April.

The dual-function tunnel measuring 9.7 km to drain off floodwater, which would also be used as a motorway tunnel for cars from the city heading south and vice-versa, was expected to be fully completed in June, he told reporters after visiting the tunnel, here today. The three-kilometre two-storey motorway had been completed and was being installed with road signs and safety features such as CCTV and communication facilities so that the road users would be able to receive radio and mobile phone signals, he said. Keizrul said the motorway was expected to be open to the public in March and they would be able to use it for free for one month after which toll charges would be imposed. Asked on the toll rate to be charged, he said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu would make the announcement later. On other flood alleviation measures in the Klang Valley, Keizrul said that besides the SMART Project, two other flood retention ponds were being built in Batu and Jinjang and a new dam was being constructed in Batu.He said the Klang Gate Dam was also being raised by another three metres while the Klang River and its tributaries were being deepened. "So far, 80 percent of the river deepening work had been completed and by 2010, the whole project was expected to be ready and the problem of major floods could be avoided," he said. Meanwhile, he said the DID and the Federal Territory Amateur Athletes Association would organise the "SMART Tunnel Run 2007" on March 11 in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the DID, to enable members of the public to experience running in the tunnel.

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February 10, 2007 16:05 PM

"SMART" Project On Discovery Channel Again

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) project will be featured for the second time on the Discovery Channel.

The hour-long documentary on the world's first dual-purpose facility -- stormwater management and a motorway tunnel -- will be televised on Astro's Channel 50 on Feb 18 at 9 pm and repeated on Feb 19 at 3 am and 2 pm. Syarikat Konsesi Smart Sdn Bhd, the concessionaire of the motorway tunnel, said the unique and innovative project was initially featured on Discovery Channel's "Extreme Engineering" programme last year during Malaysia's 49th National Day celebrations. In a statement today, the company said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu was delighted that the Malaysian engineering excellence was being featured worldwide. The SMART project combines two motorway decks above a flood channel in a tunnel that runs under congested roads, unpredictable geology and nearby high-rise buildings. The 4km motorway will provide a new direct alternative to the KL city centre for 200,000 motorists travelling daily along the congested Jalan Sungai Besi while the flood channel will divert floodwater away and bypass the city centre. Samy Vellu, during a recent visit to the project site, said the project was 94 per cent completed and that the motorway could be opened by next month and the balance of the project would be completed by June.
The RM1.9 billion SMART project is being constructed by MMC-Gamuda JV for the government.
= = == = =UPDATE: 11^th Feb 2007; 18:37pm

February 11, 2007 16:35 PM

"It has not been decided yet as my ministry has to put up a paper to the cabinet. Also, I've to talk to the Economic Planning Unit in the Prime Minister's Department before I make any disclosure on the rates," he told reporters after presenting cash incentives to 580 Tamil school pupils who excelled in last year's Standard Six Assessment Test (UPSR). "Everything concerning toll rates will be decided by the cabinet. "It is not my own decision to increase, charge extra or reduce toll," Samy Vellu said. Drainage and Irrigation Department director-general Datuk Keizrul Abdullah said yesterday motorists would have a month toll-free ride along the tunnel expected to open end of next month.

The Storm Water Management and Road Tunnel (Smart) was built to channel excess floodwater away from the city. On Tamil school development, Samy Vellu, who is also MIC president, said Education Minister Datuk Seri Hishammuddin Tun Hussein had agreed to build new buildings for 16 Tamil schools costing RM18 million. He said 22 fully government-aided Tamil schools would be rebuilt under the Ninth Malaysia Plan. Earlier, in his speech, Samy Vellu said he was proud of the increasing number of high achievers from Tamil schools in the UPSR examination every year. "If possible, I want all Indian students to opt for a professional career. In fact, my vision is to see two professionals in every Indian family," he added.= = == =

February 10, 2007 18:59 PM

Only Half-a-kilometre Of Drilling Left For SMART Tunnel
KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Only half- a-kilometre of drilling work remains for the Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) Project, said Drainage and Irrigation Department (DID) Director-General Datuk Paduka Keizrul Abdullah. He said the drilling machine "Tuah" was currently operating northward of the city and would penetrate the area in front of the flood retention pond in Kg Berembang, Ampang, at the end of March or early April.

Keizrul said the motorway was expected to be open to the public in March and they would be able to use it for free for one month after which toll charges would be imposed. Asked on the toll rate to be charged, he said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu would make the announcement later. On other flood alleviation measures in the Klang Valley, Keizrul said that besides the SMART Project, two other flood retention ponds were being built in Batu and Jinjang and a new dam was being constructed in Batu.He said the Klang Gate Dam was also being raised by another three metres while the Klang River and its tributaries were being deepened. "So far, 80 percent of the river deepening work had been completed and by 2010, the whole project was expected to be ready and the problem of major floods could be avoided," he said. Meanwhile, he said the DID and the Federal Territory Amateur Athletes Association would organise the "SMART Tunnel Run 2007" on March 11 in conjunction with the 75th anniversary of the DID, to enable members of the public to experience running in the tunnel.

= = == = == =
February 10, 2007 16:05 PM

SMART" Project On Discovery Channel Again

KUALA LUMPUR, Feb 10 (Bernama) -- Malaysia's Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel (SMART) project will be featured for the second time on the Discovery Channel.

The RM1.9 billion SMART project is being constructed by MMC-Gamuda JV for the government.

= == = = = == =

UPDATE: Feb 02 2007:

SMART Tunnel NOT So SMART After ALL; COST Expensively MARK UP (by that SAME LDP Toll Builder) and SMART MAY Not be Able to Prevent Floods If Network of Drains and Rivers are Clogged with Rubbish.

When you build something “one of its kind” it is indeed smart and it is only smart you would jack up the price as it is almost done at ALL cost. This seems to be the scenario if we look at the statement released by Dr Tan S Giaw. A cool 1 billion profit, believe it or not, by the same gang of protected OSA design & build and Toll operators.
And what is worst, it might not work. The proof of this SMART Pudding is indeed in the Flooding. Let us pray the El Nino would strike KL in March 2007 and put this SMART tunnel to its 1^st TEST.
Even if this fails, the “design & Build” concept will still be maintained (Samy’s latest pronouncement, Feb 01 2007 in related post H E R E )

= = = == = == = = =

14/1/2007) -m
Media Statement; Dr Tan Seng Giaw ; DAP National Deputy Chairman and MP for Kepong

(Kuala Lumpur, Sunday): I call on the Government to complete the two packages of the Kuala Lumpur flood mitigation scheme as soon as possible and to ensure that the scheme will truly mitigate flooding in the Federal Territory.

I respond to the request by motorists, traders and hawkers to overcome the delay in the works of the two packages. Package I is to alleviate flooding from the Klang River with Smart Tunnel. Package II is to channel excess water from Gombak River, Batu River, Jinjang River and Keroh River, Kepong, to the three big lakes in Jinjang North, through underground drains.

Yesterday, the Minister for the Federal Territories Datuk Zulhasnan reassured the city folks that the operation rooms in KL and Labuan are ready to face floods in the territories. We hope that there will not be flooding and that if it were to occur, those who man operation rooms will be efficient. The Malaysian Department of Irrigation and Drainage (D.I.D.) is implementing two packages of the flood mitigation in KL. Package I began in 2003, to be completed in December, 2006. It is expected to be ready by June this year. After a delay, Package II started in August, 2005, works to be finished by the beginning of this year. It is expected to be operational by the end of the year. The delay in the works causes inconvenience to motorists, affecting business. For instance, works in Jinjang along the Kepong road gives rise to traffic jams in the last one and a half years. We wish this part of the project is completed soon.

Some people including the Director-General of D.I.D. Datuk Keizrul maintain that once operational, the two packages may not be able to alleviate flooding. There are other factors such as a network of drains and rivers. The Government and the people must help to ensure that these drains and rivers are not clogged with rubbish. The cost of the two packages is of concern. The media have quoted the cost of Package I as RM2.1 billion and that of Package II as RM500 million, or is it RM800 million, giving the total of RM2.6 billion, or RM2.9 billion.

The Government must show transparency and accountability. It has to make public the cost of the two packages assessed by an internationally-recognized professional organization. For example, an estimate shows the Smart Tunnel as costing less than RM1 billion. If the concessionaire gets RM1.3 billion, it makes over RM200 million. If it obtains RM2.1 billion, it gains RM1 billion, nearly 100%. We understand that flood mitigation projects are expensive and that they may not be able to prevent floods. But, this does not mean that we can simply waste public fund.

= = == = ==
But what will be the TOLL charge by Gamuda???????? And Will it work when the floods come?????????

ABOVE: The route map, you would not miss the Tunnel if you are from Sungei Besi

SMART is an acronym for Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel, a project under the Federal Government initiated to alleviate the flooding problem in the city centre of Kuala Lumpur. The project is implemented through a joint venture pact between MMC Berhad and Gamuda Berhad with the Department of Irrigation And Drainage Malaysia and the Malaysian Highway Authority as the executing government agencies.= = = = =

Two of the biggest tunnel boring machines ever seen in Asia are being used to create the 13.2m diameter tunnel which will serve to divert flood waters in central Kuala Lumpur Recurring floods and ongoing traffic congestion have an adverse economic impact on Kuala Lumpur’s central business district in Malaysia. Now a single solution to both problems is taking shape in the form of an ingenious dual-purpose tunnel carrying vehicles and stormwater – the first of its kind in the world.

SMART – Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel – is as clever as its name suggests. The 11.5km long 13.2m diameter tunnel will divert flood waters away from the confluence of the two rivers running through central Kuala Lumpur while its middle 3km section will double up as a two-deck motorway to relieve traffic congestion at the main southern gateway into the city centre.

Ever since widespread floods hit the capital in 1971 the government has been implementing measures to increase the rivers’ capacity for coping with flood waters from upstream. But over time conventional methods such as channel widening and deepening had become inadequate and extensive urban development was making matters worse. Detailed studies had led to the concept of a tunnel for stormwater storage, and then at design stage came the novel idea of using it to tackle traffic congestion. After approval by Malaysia’s government, development began by the MMC Engineering-Gamuda joint venture, with engineering support from SSP Consultants and Mott MacDonald.

ABOVE:Normal STORM, Upper two levels for traffic to & fro and BELOW: the 3 modes. WHEN BIG STORMS, Traffic lanes closed for the STORM WATER To pass (Mode 3 bottom) - Round part represents the TUNNEL, and BLUE is Water.

SMART will work on a three mode system. Mode one operates under normal conditions or when rainfall is low such that no water needs to be diverted into the tunnel. Moderate storms activate mode two. This will divert flood water into a bypass tunnel in the lower section of the motorway tunnel which will remain open to traffic. During the once or twice yearly heavy storms, a switch is made to mode three when the tunnel is closed and the full tunnel section with a combined capacity of 3 million m3 becomes available to divert the dramatically increased flows. Extensive monitoring stations will ensure sufficient time is allocated to allow the last vehicle to exit before the automated water-tight gates are opened. The motorway will then re-open to traffic within 48 hours of closure. We’re ensuring that operational aspects of the change over between modes from vehicle to flood use are practical and efficient.

SMART’s major components include an upstream intake structure, holding pond and storage reservoir, diversion tunnel, twin box culvert and ingress/egress connectors to the motorway tunnel. Ground conditions dictate construction by tunnel boring machine (TBM) which is under way, with two state-of-the-art slurry TBMs working in opposite directions from the middle of the tunnel alignment.

January 29, 2007 18:23 PM
SMART Tunnel To Open For Traffic In March

KUALA LUMPUR, Jan 29 (Bernama) -- The RM1.9 billion SMART tunnel which serves as an underground passage of floodwater from the city as well as an alternative access to the city from the southern gateway will be opened to traffic end of March, said Works Minister Datuk Seri S. Samy Vellu

Monday. He said the project was already 94 per cent completed and the remaining part of the construction was due to be commissioned in June as scheduled. "I am happy with the progress of the construction of SMART," he said, adding that the route would shorten travel time to the city centre from Sungai Besi from 30 minutes to merelyfive minute.

ABOVE & BELOW: The SMART TUNNEL VEHICLE LANES; Will it work??

The opening of the route will be a boon to about 200,000 people who travel daily from Sungai Besi to Kuala Lumpur. SMART (Stormwater Management and Road Tunnel project) is connected to three roads, namely Jalan Sungai Besi next to the Royal Malaysian Air Force airport, Jalan Sultan Ismail beside Berjaya Time Square and Jalan Tun Razak opposite the RHB complex. Samy said the tunnel would be able to prevent flooding in Kuala Lumpur during heavy downpour as overflowing water from Sungai Klang at Kampung Berembang would be diverted to a holding pond in Taman Desa before being channelled to Sungai Kerayong. SMART is a unique and innovative project and one of its kind in the world as it serves a dual function -11km of underground water passage and 4km of traffic conduit, he said. "The Discovery Channel had shown a documentary on the project in its Extreme Engineering series last year which was broadcast all over the world," he said, adding that the water passage was financed by the government while Syarikat Konsesi SMART Sdn Bhd bore the cost of the traffic tunnel