Skudai to get new RM500mil hub

Datuk Lim Kang Hoo (right) with Teras Hijaujaya Sdn Bhd director Lim Chern Herng looking at the model of the Danga Utama project.

Danga Utama commercial project is latest development in growth corridor

JOHOR BARU: Teras Hijaujaya Sdn Bhd, the developer of commercial project Danga Utama, wants to position the development as the new business hub in the Skudai growth corridor.

Chief executive officer Datuk Lim Kang Hoo said the Skudai growth corridor would derive immense benefits from its close proximity to Nusajaya and Danga Bay, the two main growth components in Iskandar Malaysia.

Spanning over 9,307ha, Nusajaya is one of the five flagship development zones in Iskandar Malaysia, the country's first economic growth corridor launched in 2006.

Our project is located just a few kilometres away from the Skudai exit of the North-South Expressway and Second Link to Singapore and also from Danga Bay, Lim said at the project's launch recently.

He said the company had, under phase one, sold 85% of the 129 three-storey shop offices with mezzanine floors priced from RM1.35mil.

Other components in phase one include six six-storey corporate office towers with selling prices from RM6.1mil.

Lim said the project on a 7.3ha site along Jalan Skudai and Jalan Sutera Danga would be completed in the next four to five years with gross development value of RM500mil.

He said phase two would have high-end condominium towers and retail outlets overlooking Sungai Skudai which would be rehabilitated under the 10th Malaysia Plan.

The Federal Government has allocated about RM300mil for a comprehensive river beautification programme which include dredging, widening and complete clean-up of filthy rivers in the country.

We want to repeat the success of Danga Bay in our Danga Utama project. Phase two will also see us introducing water taxi services from Danga Bay to the project here, said Lim, who is also Danga Bay Sdn Bhd CEO.

Located along Jalan Skudai, Danga Bay is now one of the most sought after addresses for waterfront development properties in Johor Baru, with Lim as one of the players behind the transformation of Danga Bay.

Upcoming projects in Danga Bay include three hotels, high-end condominiums, a marina, an international convention and exhibition centre, and office towers.

Iskandar Regional Development Authority has also chosen a waterfront area in Danga Bay for the wellness township development project in Iskandar.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd and Temasek Holdings Ltd will be jointly developing the project on the 202ha site.

By The Star