A general view of many high-rise buildings mushrooming along the Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway in George Town.

WHEN my childhood friends visit me, they would often ask: “How is Penang doing?” I tell them that the state has been developing at breakneck speed over the last seven years compared with the last three decades.

I’m Kedah-born but have lived in Penang for more than 30 years. I first started work on the island in 1981 at a time when most of Bayan Baru and Bayan Lepas were lush hills and undeveloped.

I recall having to catch bus No.66 of the now-defunct Yellow Bus Company from Bayan Baru to my office in Light Street.

The late 80s and 90s saw the rapid development of Bayan Baru and Bayan Lepas with expansion of the free trade zones and industrial estates, and many people from all over the country came to work in the factories. This, in turn, created a major demand for housing.

Major highways cropped up including the Penang Bridge which increased traffic on the island.

Penang’s population now stands at 1.648 million and those going to work have to contend with congested roads.

With the change of government in 2008, major projects have been planned under the first phase of the RM27bil Penang Transport Master Plan such as the LRT project which is scheduled to take off in the first half of 2017.

Three other projects are the 12km Tanjung Bungah-Teluk Bahang paired road, the 4.6km bypass connecting Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway with Bandar Baru Air Itam, and the 4.2km bypass connecting Gurney Drive to Tun Dr Lim Chong Eu Expressway.

And then there’s also the 6.5km undersea tunnel connecting Gurney Drive on the island to Butterworth’s Bagan Ajam, a RM6.34bil project set for completion in 2025.

Do we need another entry into the island when there are already two bridges and a ferry service? Is the state engaging the people enough in its development plans?

A major hue and cry erupted when the Penang Outer Ring Road was proposed to ease traffic congestion in George Town. The project was scrapped when the present government took over.

The second Penang bridge is devoid of traffic on weekdays and only used by motorists from the south. People living in Batu Maung and Bayan Lepas still prefer taking the first bridge to work.

The state administration should instead look into upgrading the ferry service which has been languishing due to poor service and maintenance.

I feel that we are moving too fast. We should grow the urban landscape without losing the charm and beauty of the island.