RM25.2 mln S’kan bus terminal ready soon
SANDAKAN: The RM25.2 million Sandakan Integrated Bus Terminal project at Mile 1.5 is almost complete, said Chief Minister Tan Sri Musa Aman.
“This Integrated Bus Terminal is funded by the Federal Government (RM16.2 million) and State Government (RM9 million). Before this we (Government) had received a lot of requests for a bus terminal with bigger space to accommodate the number of buses and passengers.
“We had then accepted the request, discussed, planned and built. The Barisan Nasional Government is always alert to the needs of the people. I hope that this terminal would be a comfortable facility for the people to enjoy, especially those in Sandakan,” he said during his inspection visit to the terminal project site at Mile 2.5, Jalan Lintas Utara here, yesterday.
It will be the first terminal in Sabah to use the Terminal Operating System (TOS), whereby the bus schedule is computerised and will be shown on the screen.
According to Sandakan Municipal Council (SMC) President Datuk James Wong, the TOS system is similar to that used at bus terminals in Peninsular Malaysia, where passengers are able to check the bus schedule on the screens. In addition, some doors will only be open to passengers to get on the bus at a specific time.
Wong said the structure of the terminal covering four acres of the 11-acre site is complete and it will be launched after touch-up of the place and parking spaces is carried out.
“There will be 12 bus spaces within the compound in which eight bus spaces are for passengers getting on the bus while four spaces located in front of the building are for passengers’ drop off (not including a parking space for buses that are parking).
“The building will also have eight shops on the ground floor selling groceries as well as kiosks selling drinks and ice cream, while the first floor will have eight shops selling food and drinks. There will also be a hallway on the first floor for those who are waiting to get on the bus or those who are waiting for people to arrive. Once the terminal is open, bus tickets could also be purchased online or at the counter,” he said.
Wong said the Sandakan Integrated Bus Terminal is expected to be utilised by 30 to 50 buses on regular days, and 70 buses on busy days. There will be transit buses to get passengers to the terminal from town and satellite towns here.
He added that following the growing number of people sending goods to and from Sandakan and Kota Kinabalu, there will be booths prepared outside the building for dropping off and picking up goods, so that those who are using the service do not have to enter the building.
The bus terminal will cater to express buses to and from Sandakan, Tawau, Semporna, and Lahad Datu which are the main transportation mode linking the main towns in the east coast to Kota Kinabalu and Ranau.
Currently, the bus terminal in Sandakan is located temporarily at Bandar Letat, Mile 3 here.
Also present during the inspection were Elopura Assemblyman Datuk Au Kam Wah and SMC Deputy President Mohd Hamsan Awang Supain.