GEORGE TOWN, PENANG, 21 August 2026 – HARTASUMA today hosted a historic site visit, marking a critical leap forward in the progress of the Penang Hill Cable Car development. In a powerful demonstration of state backing, Yang Amat Berhormat Tuan Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang and Chairman of Penang Hill Corporation (PBBPP), officially tightened the final bolt of Tower 1 at the Garden Station.
The Chief Minister’s special monitoring visit was supported by a distinguished delegation of state leaders, including Y.B. Tuan Lim Guan Eng, Former Chief Minister and ADUN Air Putih, Y.B. Tuan Zairil Khir Johari, EXCO Infrastructure, Transport & Digital and YB Wong Hong Wai, EXCO Tourism and Creative Economy.
Their presence underscores the project’s strategic alignment with Penang Vision 2030 – the state’s blueprint to build a family-focused, green, and smart state that inspires the nation. By delivering a low-impact mobility ecosystem, HARTASUMA is directly actualising this vision, providing sustainable community infrastructure that balances economic growth with environmental stewardship.
Sharing his observations with Buletin Mutiara, Y.A.B. Tuan Chow Kon Yeow stated: “This is a project highly anticipated by the people of Penang. Since its commencement on-site in January 2025, we understand that the initial subterranean works faced challenges. However, we are pleased to witness today that all underground works have been completed, and the site has now entered the above-ground construction phase”.
The project has officially reached an overall progress rate of 32 per cent. This structural milestone marks a major operational shift for the construction teams, moving out of complex, unseen subterranean foundation works and stepping directly into the vertical execution of the project line.
Designed as the first iconic experiential ropeway development in Penang, the infrastructure is engineered to reconcile people, place, and mobility. Delivering upon a commitment to sustainability within the designated UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, the Concession Agreement deliberately allocated a 42-month construction period from the Appointed Date, originally targeting completion in December 2028.
Driven by strong construction momentum across all active work fronts, the target completion date for physical works has been optimised to August 2027, with a Target Commercial Operation Date slated for the fourth quarter of 2027.
Current project progress highlights include:
- System Integrity: The Ropeway System itself has reached an advanced 43.0 per cent completion.
- Station Advancement: The Turn Station is currently at 38.5 per cent completion, with structural works ongoing and cable car system installation preparation underway.
- Expansive Infrastructure: Once complete, the system will feature 46 gondolas navigating a 2.73km alignment, ascending an 731m elevation in an approximate 10-minute ride.
- Integrated Hubs: The project encompasses 15 towers and 4 distinct infrastructure nodes – the Commercial Plaza, Garden Station, Turn Station, and Hill Station.
“Mastering this steep, natural hillside terrain has required exceptional technical resilience,” stated Tan Sri Ravindran Menon, Group Executive Director of HARTASUMA Group. “Responsible development within a UNESCO Biosphere demands meticulous, low-impact execution. We are right on track, and exactly where we need to be at this phase”.
HARTASUMA, together with the Penang Hill Corporation – remains exceptionally committed to ensuring that all residents of Penang remain accurately informed in the shared progress towards a highly sustainable future for this UNESCO Biosphere Reserve.
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About HARTASUMA Group
HARTASUMA Group is a Southeast Asian leader in integrated mobility, transport infrastructure, and sustainable destination development. The Group builds upon a three-decade engineering legacy to deliver end-to-end urban transit and eco-tourism solutions. Driven by a mission to empower upward socio-economic mobility, the Group is committed to engineering sustainable, high-impact public infrastructure that connects communities across the ASEAN region.
About HARTASUMA Sdn Bhd
Incorporated in 1994, Hartasuma Sdn Bhd is a pioneer in the region’s public transit sector and the engineering anchor of the Group. Delivering holistic infrastructure solutions, the company’s expertise encompasses railway engineering, ropeway systems, and civil construction. With core competencies spanning innovative engineering, assembly, refurbishment, and long-term operations, HARTASUMA collaborates with international partners to pioneer sustainable, multi-modal mobility infrastructure across ASEAN.
About HARTASUMA Ropeways Sdn Bhd
Hartasuma Ropeways Sdn Bhd is the eco-tourism and integrated ropeway development arm of the Group, specialising in sustainable developments with ropeway transit systems and destination management. The company is the master developer and concessionaire of the Penang Hill Cable Car Development. Balancing environmentally conscious experiential ropeway developments, HARTASUMA Ropeways is dedicated to elevating eco-tourism, enhancing accessibility to critical cultural sites, and preserving local heritage for future generations.
For more information, visit hartasuma.com.
For further media enquiries, please contact:
Joan Chuen
Tel: +6017 521 6669
Email: joan.chuen@hartasuma.com
