Survey on market facelift on public display

GEORGE TOWN: An exhibition of the urban markets survey commissioned by ThinkCity Sdn Bhd on behalf of the Penang Municipal Council (MPPP) will be presented to the public for a week beginning today.

It will be held at the first floor foodcourt of the Chowrasta Market in Penang Road here.

ThinkCity had appointed Badan Warisan Heritage Services to conduct the survey.

The findings and recommendations contained in the survey report have been adopted as a guidance for the major facelift of the Chowrasta Market, taking into account decisions that have been formulated by the local authority in relation to issues of legality of vendors, spatial needs of vendors and users, right of way, accessibility, car parks, health and safety.

Among the key features of the new upgraded market will be a new multi-storey car park with about 140 bays, new heavy-duty escalators connecting the ground floor to the first floor, two passenger lifts and one service lift, better market layout on the ground floor and new toilets on the ground floor.

"It will also be the first market to achieve the Green Building Index (GBI) certification and also having an organic waste composting on-site.

"The inside of the market will be brighter, airy and hopefully dry," said the MPPP director of building Yew Tung Seang at a press conference yesterday.

State Local Government and Traffic Management Committee chairman Chow Kon Yeow said the MPPP had allocated more than RM12m for the upgrading works.

He said that work would be done phase by phase to minimise disruption of the business there.

The full report can also be accessed on the ThinkCity website, www.thinkcity.com.my.

A second focus groups workshop will be held on Aug 6 at the market's first floor market at 2pm.