LRT plan draws ferocious opposition in consultation session

In a consultation session held last Saturday regarding the Light Rapid Transit (LRT) Northeastern section on Macau Peninsula, many residents voiced their opposition to the “Avenida de 1° de Maio proposal,” which would see the LRT track passing through the Areia Preta avenue. Some also expressed their distrust of the government.
Attendants brought with them protesting signs. They also showed their disapproval by booing when officials were introducing the plans.
At one point the chief of the Transportation Infrastructure Office (GIT), Lei Chan Tong, sternly asked the participants whether they wanted the officials to remain silent and let the crowd do all the talking.
After the introduction, residents were given the chance to ask questions or speak to the representatives from different government departments on the stage.
Among those who spoke, most of them were against the Avenida de 1° de Maio proposal. They were concerned with the noise and the alleged radiation that the LRT will produce, as well as the impact that the construction would have on the structure of the buildings nearby.
Residents also voiced a wish that they do not want the Areia Preta Park to be affected by the project –
according to a suggested route, the LRT would pass over the park.
A resident cited a news report that claimed an engineer had said that putting LRT underground is possible, and accused the officials of lying.
Nevertheless, a minority of the participants spoke in favor of the controversial proposal. However, when they were speaking, other participants immediately voiced their opposition. Those in favor hence accused the latter of suppressing different opinions.
In response, Lei Chan Tong called on all parties to respect each other, and agreed that the LRT should have as little impact on residents as possible, but it also had to balance with the need for residents to commute.
Mr Lei urged people to make a rational choice after studying the information. He said that it would not be beneficial for society if the public wanted to change their mind after a proposal had been adopted.
The GIT deputy chief, André Ritchie, also pointed out that, if the LRT goes underground, there will be various issues, including the technical issues and underground facilities like pipe networks, which have to be considered. He said that it is likely to take several years to relocate these underground facilities alone. The digging, he claimed, would also require the avenue and the park to be closed for some years. JPL