Rela workers redirecting traffic to stop them from going further towards Penang Botanic Gardens along Jalan Kebun Bunga in George Town. — Photos: KT GOH/The Star
PENANG Botanic Gardens is a popular recreational venue that receives a few hundred visitors daily.
However, parking at the place has become a great concern after part of Jalan Kebun Bunga leading to the gardens is closed since Oct 15 to facilitate works for the Penang Hill Cable Car project nearby.
Only authorised vehicles and residents are permitted beyond the intersection at Lorong Air Terjun (before Park Avenue apartment), where a temporary roundabout has been built.
The Arulmigu Shree Balathandayuthabani Hilltop Temple committee that had earlier allowed visitors to the gardens to use its parking facility, quickly realised it was not feasible.
Its chairman Datuk K. Kumaraendran said the partial closure of the road for 20 months resulted in many visitors to the gardens parking at the temple premises that has about 30 parking bays.
“We realised we could not cater to them as we have devotees coming to the temple who need to park here,” he said, adding that the temple had functions daily and it would be more difficult during Thaipusam next year.
The banner put up along Jalan Kebun Bunga to notify people about the road closure.
A dialogue with the state government was held regarding the Jalan Kebun Bunga closure, said Kumaraendran, who was glad the matter was easily resolved.
He said temple security guards were on standby to ensure only those heading to the temple were allowed to park within its grounds.
Kebun Bunga assemblyman Lee Boon Heng was earlier reported to have said that the partial closure would take place from Oct 15 to June 30, 2026.
The public was advised to adhere to the traffic management plan and exercise caution during the period.
Lee had said the plan outlined the traffic flow and management for the construction activities.
Visitors to the Penang Botanic Gardens were asked to park at designated areas instead of along Jalan Kebun Bunga.
Lee also said that visitors could take a brief walk from the designated parking areas to the gardens, which would remain open during the project period.
Brahma Kumaris Penang branch manager Helen Ong, when met at the centre along Jalan Kebun Bunga, said two cars blocked their entrance on the first day of the road closure.
“There was not enough parking and they were blocking our entrance early in the morning.
“Many usually come as early as 5am to head over to the gardens. We also expect the crowd to come in over the weekend and there will be more cars.
“As long as they do not hinder us or block our entrance, it is fine,” she said, adding that since the project would take only two years, they would “adjust”.
“We just hope people are mindful when they park their cars, because when they park on both sides of the road, vehicles cannot come through,” said Ong.
However, she believed fewer people would visit the gardens as it was a long walk from the roadblock to the park.
“I think the crowd will reduce as most of them are elderly and it is a long walk to and from the gardens to their cars.
“One worry we do have, however, is that container trucks heading to the construction site could hit our electric cables and we would have to endure a power cut,” she said.
Penang Hill Corporation (PHC) general manager Datuk Cheok Lay Leng said that while the feedback had been mostly positive, there were complaints about insufficient parking space.
“This is only temporary and we will build a multi-storey carpark at the food court area.
“We (PHC) are appealing to the public for their cooperation.
“If not, we will not be able to solve the parking and traffic problem,” he said.
Cheok said the project was a huge investment and there would be short-term inconveniences that would bring long-term good to the area.
