Penang: The Penang Hill Corporation (PBBPP), in collaboration with Rapid Bus Sdn Bhd and the state government, has announced the introduction of free shuttle bus services from Komtar to Penang Hill. This service will be available from December 25 to December 28, coinciding with the year-end school holidays.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, the service is scheduled to operate from 9 am to 9 pm, featuring eight round trips daily at intervals of one and a half hours. Passengers can avail themselves of this facility by boarding the shuttle at Komtar's Station 9 bus stop on Jalan Ria, located under the underpass next to the Rapid Penang kiosk. The shuttle will transport passengers to and from the Penang Hill Lower Station.

The statement from PBBPP highlighted that if the shuttle bus reaches full capacity, visitors are encouraged to use the Rapid Penang bus service, specifically Route 204. This route operates from the Weld Quay Bus Terminal through Komtar to Penang Hill, with a standard fare applicable. The Route 204 service runs every 35 minutes during peak hours and every 45 minutes during off-peak periods.

Since the initiative's inception in 2023, the free shuttle service has seen a positive response, with over 10,000 passengers having utilized the service to date, including 1,163 passengers during the end of last year. The primary aim of this initiative is to alleviate traffic congestion in the areas surrounding Penang Hill.