IPOH: The Works Ministry will request RM20 million to build rest-and-service areas (R&R) along the Lingkaran Tengah Utama (LTU) Expressway (formerly the Central Spine Road) in Pahang.
Deputy Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Maslan said the allocation request will be made to the Finance and Economy Ministries.
"Yesterday, I was with Barisan Nasional (BN) parliament members, BN senators, and BN assemblymen at PWTC. It was a closed-door meeting on the preparation for the coming parliament sitting this Monday.
"An exco member from Pahang, as well as the Pahang Menteri Besar, personally raised the issue of R&R facilities on the LTU. I informed Menteri Besar that the R&R will be built by the federal government.
"We will contact the Economic Planning Unit (EPU) and apply for RM20 million to build R&R facilities on both sides of the road. We have identified the locations, but we only need RM20 million to realise this," he said.
He said this after inspecting the progress of the slope repair and rehabilitation project for the FT185 Federal Road (Simpang Pulai - Blue Valley) today.
Yesterday, Sultan of Pahang, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah, urged the federal government to consider constructing R&R stops along the toll-free Central Spine Road.
In a post on the Kesultanan Pahang Facebook page, the ruler said that the absence of these essential facilities would complicate several issues, including meeting the basic needs of the public who travel this route.
The facilities will include shops, toilets, and a surau, addressing road users' needs.
Ahmad added that the proposal had been previously rejected by a private entity due to low profitability.
"I believe this application will be approved because it addresses a pressing need for the rakyat there.
"Previously, the proposal was brought up to a private entity, but in their view, it was not profitable because traffic congestion in the area only occurs during certain seasons.
"So, one R&R will be built in the direction of Gua Musang, while another, on the opposite side, will be built heading towards Bentong. Each R&R facility will cost RM10 million.
"This project is important because of the urgent needs raised by the people and the leadership of the Pahang state government," he said.