SMART Project (1)

This is a typical scene on a rainy day in the KL City: pools of puddle on the road, covering all the potholes making driving even more difficult (unless you are driving on a 4-wheel-drive) thus slowing down traffic tremendously; broken down traffic lights don’t help either. 30 minutes just to pass a 300m stretch is not uncommon especially during peak office hours.

Q: What can make you feel worst?

A: When you actually got stuck in this situation on top of a RM1.9b, "SMART Tunnel" Project - A storm drainage and road structure, which was dubbed “a major national project” in Malaysia. Once completed, it is said to be the longest stormwater tunnel in South East Asia and second longest in Asia. Malaysia Boleh!

This project was even featured in Discovery Channel’s Extreme Engineering recently. I haven’t got a chance to watch this program, but I’m pretty sure this was not shown in the documentary…

Q: If one can come up with such multi-billion Ringgit brilliant ideas, then how difficult it will be to manage potholes and simple drainage systems beside the roads on the surface? And why, manhole covers have to be built right in the middle of the roads? Cars and bikes tend to avoid such uneven road surfaces even on dry condition thus endangering all the road users.

A: Pay toll to use the new SMART Tunnel. Malaysia Boleh-lah!

-HS