By Syed Rory Malai HassanBandar Seri Begawan - Following the formal proposal to build two bridges connecting Mukim Lumapas and Bandar Seri Begawan last month, State representative for Brunei-Muara Hj Bakar Mansor said he is confident the plan will go ahead.
The proposal put forward the idea of building a bridge from Kg Pintu Malim, on the east side of Bandar Seri Begawan, to Kg Bolkiah "B" on Pulau Berambang and another smaller bridge to Mukim Lumapas, where traffic would join Jln Kasat.
The proposal put forward the idea of building a bridge from Kg Pintu Malim, on the east side of Bandar Seri Begawan, to Kg Bolkiah "B" on Pulau Berambang and another smaller bridge to Mukim Lumapas, where traffic would join Jln Kasat.
The plan was put forward at a State Legislative Council (LegCo) session in March.
The main bridge from Kg Pintu Malim to Pulau Berambang would be about one-kilometre long, and the smaller bridge to Mukim Lumapas would be about 500-metres long, Hj Bakar said.
Independent consultants forecast the project's total cost at about $60 .million to $100 million, he said.
One of the key benefits of the plan is that it would open up business opportunities on Pulau Berambang through the potential development of the land on the island, Hj Bakar said, adding that the plan also opens up the possibility for a bridge to be built from Pulau Berambang to Temburong in the future.
Development Minister Pehin Orang Kaya Hamzah Pahlawan Dato Seri Setia Hj Abdullah Begawan Mudim Dato Paduka Hj Abu Bakar has given the new plan a positive response compared to previous proposals, Hj Bakar said.
The response may be due to the National Development Plan (NDP) for 2007-2012 placing emphasis on developing safer roads and transportation routes, he added.
The current NDP mandates that a feasibility study be completed on the construction of a bridge connecting Brunei-Muara to Temburong.
"This makes the idea of a bridge to Pulau Berambang something that should be considered seriously," Hj Bakar said, adding that the bridge would boost business on the island.
"Not only can we develop the land by setting up industries and all sorts of economic activity, Pulau Berambang may even be developed into a world-class tourist destination or island resort," he said.
The island is currently home to over 1,000 residents and the Pulau Berambang Nature Reserve, which may become a major tourist attraction.
Hj Bakar explained that the only way to currently reach Pulau Berambang is by boat and most of the island's residents feel they are ignored by the government.
"The residents (on Pulau Berambang) are provided basic necessities, such as education and health, but some say that it is not enough compared with what others get on the mainland," he said.
In addition, the new route would halve the travel time for Mukim Lumapas residents travelling to destinations on the north side of the Brunei River, including Bandar, Muara Port and the airport, he added.
Currently, a drive from Mukim Lumapas to Bandar takes about an hour in normal traffic, even longer in peak hours, he explained. "We are seeing an increase of commuters travelling up and down the Bengkurong-Tanjong Bunut road as more and more residents move into the area as more government housing schemes are completed," Hj Bakar said.
He explained that talks of joining Mukim Lumapas to Bandar by road dates back to 1998, when it was suggested that the government build two bridges from Kg Sg Kebun.
However, the proposal stalled on the grounds it would cost too much, and the idea was soon forgotten, said Hj Bakar.
The proposal was repeatedly raised at State Legislative Council in the hope that it would catch on, he said, yet the Ministry of Development said the project was not feasible at the time and there were other more pressing matters to attend to. -- Courtesy of The Brunei Times
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