SERIAN: A total of RM8.39 million in land compensation has been disbursed for the Serian-Gedong-Samarahan Dual Carriageway Highway project, enabling construction works for the new road to proceed.
Education, Innovation and Talent Development Minister, Datuk Seri Roland Sagah Wee Inn, said the payments involved 64 recipients under Packages 1A and 1B of the project.
He said strong cooperation from affected landowners had helped expedite the process, with many granting contractors access to their land even before compensation was paid.
“This has allowed development works to move forward more smoothly and is a very encouraging sign. This project will bring many benefits to the people, particularly in improving their economic opportunities. It will also shorten travel time between Serian and Kuching.
“As the Pan Borneo Highway runs from Lawas to Kuching via Serian, this road will also serve as an alternative route for those travelling to Kuching,” he said.
He told the media this after officiating the cheque handover event of land compensation for the Serian-Gedong-Samarahan Dual Carriageway Highway project at Dewan Serbaguna Kampung Rayang here today.
Sagah, who is Tarat state assemblyman, said construction was being carried out simultaneously across different administrative divisions, including Kota Samarahan, with coordination among agencies such as the Public Works Department, the Land and Survey Department, and local residents.
He said the overall project was expected to be completed within three years, noting that bridge construction was required at several locations along the route.
Among the key components is a bridge linking Kampung Sebemban and Kampung Gumpey in Gedong, which will significantly improve access between the two areas.
“The road network will also integrate with the Autonomous Rail Transit (ART) system in the future, further improving connectivity between Gedong and Serian,” he added.
The compensation involved land acquisition for Package 1A from the Rayang junction to Munggu Kopi and Tanah Puteh over a distance of 9.79 kilometres, and Package 1B from the Tanah Puteh junction to the Gedong Isthmus (Serian sector), spanning 8.54 kilometres.
Sagah assured landowners who had yet to receive compensation that payments would continue in subsequent batches.
