Infrastructure & development — Topics

11 Nov 2013

MOU signed at Recent China-Singapore Joint Council for Bilateral Cooperation Meeting

Singapore SMEs can benefit from the MOU by accessing China's large services market, with agencies supporting expansion through business missions, matching, and grants, including participation in the CIFTIS platform.
Collaboration in science and technology at the Suzhou Industrial Park will provide stronger support for commercializing innovations, particularly aiding start-ups in tapping China's mass market.
Smart city solutions in areas like transportation, education, and environment will be developed in pilot cities like Suzhou, offering SMEs opportunities to provide expertise in ICT, urban planning, and transport.
Cooperation in the Tianjin Eco-City and other projects serves as a model for sustainable development, with over 300 SMEs already engaged through missions and business matching.
Singapore and Chinese companies will partner in third markets like Africa and Southeast Asia for joint infrastructure ventures, industrial parks, and financing, benefiting SMEs in growth sectors such as infrastructure and energy.

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11 Nov 2013

Planning Norms for Car Parks in HDB Estates

The Minister explained that HDB derives car park space norms by considering factors such as the number of dwelling units, flat type, existing parking demand, projected car population growth, and transport policies, with regular reviews conducted in consultation with the LTA.
Approximately 5% of HDB households, or 44,000, own more than one car, and among these, about 5% or 2,300 are assigned to park at an alternative car park near their home.
HDB monitors parking conditions in its estates and provides solutions to meet residents' needs, but the debate did not specifically address how planning norms account for the rise in car ownership or future changes to these norms.

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11 Nov 2013

Fire at Bukit Panjang Telecommunications Exchange

The Minister confirmed that the IDA is investigating the Bukit Panjang fire, focusing on its cause, avoidability, operator response, and measures to prevent recurrence, while noting that a second fully diversified network would be prohibitively expensive.
The government outlined a resilience strategy based on diversity, resistance, redundancy, and recovery, with existing resiliency codes and penalties for operators, and plans to implement an audit framework for mobile networks by next year.
Businesses and consumers are advised to work with telecom providers to adopt tailored resilience strategies, such as path diversity or using multiple operators, rather than relying on a one-size-fits-all service tier.
The Minister clarified that the sale of OpenNet is unrelated to the incident, and IDA will assess the consolidation application based on competition and public interest criteria, considering feedback from industry stakeholders.
Follow-up questions highlighted the need for regular resilience exercises, the inclusion of all operators in audits, and whether stricter requirements are warranted given Singapore’s heavy dependence on telecom infrastructure, with the Minister affirming a balanced, proactive audit approach.

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21 Oct 2013

New Running Track for Cedar Girls Secondary School When Current One is Removed

Sitoh Yih Pin asked if Cedar Girls Secondary School could get a new 400-metre running track after its current one is removed in 2017.
Heng Swee Keat explained that the school had been using an old adjacent track temporarily since 1995, but this arrangement will end due to the Bidadari Estate development.
The Ministry noted that secondary schools already have standard sports facilities that meet PE curriculum needs, and schools can use community facilities like nearby stadium tracks.

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21 Oct 2013

Development of New Senior Care Centres

The government has opened three new Senior Care Centres (SCCs) in the Central, Eastern, and Northern regions, with three more planned within six months and the remaining centres targeted for completion by 2016.
SCC operators are mainly voluntary welfare organisations or social enterprises, selected based on criteria like their proposed care model and track record in aged care.
Locations are chosen based on community accessibility, demographic and demand factors, availability of suitable sites, and public transport with barrier-free access.
The government is also working with existing eldercare providers to expand their services into full-fledged SCCs where space permits.
The overall aim is to integrate day eldercare services such as day care, dementia care, rehabilitation, and basic nursing under one roof.

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21 Oct 2013

Lift Upgrading Plans for HDB's Multi-storey Car Parks

Dr Lam Pin Min asked for an update on the lift upgrading plans for HDB's multi-storey car parks.
The Minister for National Development replied that the entire Car Parks Lift Installation Programme will be completed by 2017.
Priority will be given to towns with a larger stock of car parks without lift access, including Sengkang West where works will begin soon.

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21 Oct 2013

Use of Population Planning Parameter of 6.9 Million by 2030 in Development of New HDB Estates

Low Thia Khiang asked if the 6.9 million population planning parameter from the Population White Paper is used in developing new HDB estates and what the target percentage of population in public housing would be by 2030.
Khaw Boon Wan clarified that the 6.9 million scenario is a stretched projection for overall land and infrastructure planning, not specifically for public housing estates.
The scenario projects Singapore’s resident population between 4.2 and 4.4 million by 2030, with citizens and permanent residents making up that range, and the rest being transient non-residents.
MND and HDB focus on housing supply responsive to resident population needs and preferences, with no set target percentage for public housing occupancy by 2030.
The 6.9 million figure includes non-residents like foreign workers, domestic helpers, and students, who are not the primary consideration for public housing planning.

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21 Oct 2013

Greenprint Pilot Project in Jurong East

Low Thia Khiang sought an update on the Greenprint pilot in Jurong East and suggested developing rainwater harvesting for flood control.
Khaw Boon Wan outlined ongoing Greenprint initiatives, including bicycle parking, elevator energy regeneration, rainwater harvesting, and waste transport systems.
He added that cycling tracks, greenery, and LED street lamps will be implemented over the next two years in Jurong East.
The rainwater harvesting system is currently for non-potable use but has potential for flood mitigation, with HDB planning further feasibility studies.

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21 Oct 2013

Non-compliance with Building Construction Restrictions by Companies Involved in Build-To-Order HDB Projects

From 2010 to 2012, there were 93 violations of noise control regulations by contractors on HDB Build-to-Order projects, with NEA imposing fines for non-compliance.
HDB received 170 feedback cases from residents about construction noise during the same period, and it promptly addressed them while taking measures to mitigate noise.
HDB requires contractors to implement comprehensive Noise Management Plans and is exploring quieter construction methods, such as new pile-trimming techniques and Self-Compacting Concrete, in collaboration with NEA and BCA.

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21 Oct 2013

Removal of 400-metre Running Track of Cedar Girls Secondary School

Sitoh Yih Pin requested the Ministry for National Development to reconsider the removal of Cedar Girls Secondary School's 400-metre running track when its lease expires in 2017.
Khaw Boon Wan explained that the site was allocated for temporary use until 2017 and is now required for the Bidadari Estate development, which includes residential units, infrastructure, and public amenities.
The Bidadari Estate plans feature a 10-hectare park, jogging path, and cycling track, which will be accessible to the community and the school.
Public feedback was overwhelmingly positive (96% support), and the lease extension cannot be granted due to the scheduled development.

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21 Oct 2013

New Public Transport Services for Rivervale Crescent

Member of Parliament Lee Li Lian queried the Ministry for Transport about plans for new public transport routes at Rivervale Crescent, citing new BTO developments and asking for data on ridership patterns and progress of requests to the Land Transport Authority (LTA).
Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew confirmed that LTA is reviewing public transport options for Rivervale Crescent, considering both amendments to existing bus services and the introduction of new services to meet increased travel demand from new developments like Rivervale Arc.
The Minister assured that LTA continuously monitors commuter needs and will engage the community at the appropriate time to discuss potential transport options.

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21 Oct 2013

Barrier-free Access Measures in Land Transport Master Plan 2013

The Ministry emphasized that the Land Transport Master Plan 2013 prioritizes accessibility, with all train stations and bus interchanges barrier-free, more wheelchair-accessible taxis, and all buses to be accessible by 2020, alongside extensions to pedestrian crossing aids and sheltered walkways.
The Parliamentary Secretary assured that holistic, door-to-door accessibility is considered, citing user-focused projects like the City for All Ages and collaboration with voluntary welfare organizations to gather feedback and pilot initiatives.
Plans include extending the Walk2Ride programme to cover commercial and industrial buildings linking to MRT stations, with consideration for such facilities if they are part of the journey.
The Ministry is reviewing pedestrian infrastructure, such as accelerating pedestrian crossings in estates with high elderly populations and installing lifts at overhead bridges, while addressing localized needs through community engagement.

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16 Sep 2013

Measures to Alleviate Overcrowding at Yishun and Khatib MRT Stations

Er Dr Lee Bee Wah raised concerns about overcrowding at Yishun and Khatib MRT stations during peak hours and asked about deploying bendy buses and other alleviation measures.
Lui Tuck Yew outlined recent bus enhancements, including additional services and the potential use of high-capacity buses like bendy or double-decker buses, while noting that SMRT has been turning trains to increase south-bound trips.
Future rail improvements were announced, such as adding more trains by 2014, upgrading the signalling system by 2016 to reduce waiting times, and completing the Thomson Line from 2019 to boost overall capacity.

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16 Sep 2013

Taxi Queue Management System at Changi Airport

Ang Hin Kee asked the Ministry for Transport to consider reviewing and redesigning the existing taxi queue management system at Changi Airport for the new "Project Jewel" and to better leverage technology for faster taxi access.
Lui Tuck Yew stated that CAAS requires the airport operator to maintain high standards, with 90% of passengers clearing queues within 10 minutes, and that CAG is reviewing the system to handle increased traffic from the Terminal 1 expansion and Project Jewel.
CAG is planning to increase taxi holding area capacity, enhance safety, and add more taxi pick-up bays at Terminal 1 and Project Jewel to serve commuters adequately.
To improve taxi access, CAG has launched the "Cabs@Changi" mobile app to provide real-time information to drivers, with over 10,000 downloads, and is partnering with taxi associations and companies to offer incentives like free coffee and lucky draws to attract more taxis to the airport.

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16 Sep 2013

Pedestrian Foot Bridge Connecting Gardens by the Bay and Suntec City Areas

The pedestrian footbridge aims to link the Bay East and Bay Central gardens of Gardens by the Bay with the Suntec City area, with the concept design phase currently underway.
The timing for the bridge's actual construction depends on the development progress of the Gardens by the Bay gardens and nearby projects, including the Eastern Region MRT Line.
The staging of Formula 1 events at Bay Central is also a factor influencing the bridge's implementation timeline.

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16 Sep 2013

Two-Car System for Sengkang Punggol LRT Network

Ms Lee Li Lian inquired whether the two-car system for the Sengkang Punggol LRT network could be commissioned before 2016.
The Minister for Transport, Lui Tuck Yew, confirmed the project is estimated for completion by 2016, involving major modifications to train cars, systems, and infrastructure.
The Minister stated that the government is proceeding with the project as fast as possible to enhance the capacity of the SPLRT system.

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16 Sep 2013

Road Closure for Singapore Night Festival

Janice Koh inquired why only Armenian Street was closed for the Singapore Night Festival and asked if future events could feature more road closures and extended public transport hours to enhance public enjoyment.
Lui Tuck Yew explained that road closures are carefully balanced against traffic congestion, bus service disruptions, and safety concerns, citing the Downtown Line construction as a key factor preventing the closure of Stamford Road.
LTA has previously extended public transport operating hours for events like Christmas and New Year's Eve but keeps these extensions minimal to preserve time for essential night maintenance works.

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16 Sep 2013

Impact of New BTO Flats in Yishun Area on Public Transport Loads

Dr. Lee Bee Wah inquired about the expected increase in public transport commuters due to new BTO flats in Yishun over the next four years.
Lui Tuck Yew confirmed a 20% rise in Yishun's public housing units from 2013 to 2016, with corresponding increases in rail and bus ridership and plans to enhance transport capacity.
Measures include adding 41 new trains by 2016, upgrading the North-South Line signaling to reduce wait times, and planning the Thomson Line for future expansion.
The LTA will also introduce new bus services or reroute existing ones as needed to maintain adequate bus capacity in the area.

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16 Sep 2013

Update on Construction of Sports Hub

The Singapore Sports Hub construction is on schedule and expected to begin operations in April 2014, with the new National Stadium technically available for the National Day Parade (NDP) in August 2014, though logistical and rehearsal requirements are being reviewed before a final venue decision.
The NDP Organising Committee is in close discussions with relevant bodies and aims to decide on the NDP 2014 venue by the end of the year, addressing concerns about preparation lead times.
Feedback on improving access for citizens in wheelchairs at the NDP venue will be conveyed to the Ministry of Defence, which oversees the parade, while long-term plans for the floating platform are being studied for potential uses beyond the NDP.

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16 Sep 2013

Ownership of Underground Space

The government currently assumes surface land owners also own underground space to a reasonable depth, but is exploring how to develop deeper subterranean areas for public use like transport and utilities.
Officials are studying potential legislative changes, including whether underground space could be treated as a mortgageable asset, as part of developing a new framework for ownership and development.
The Ministry of Law plans to consult stakeholders and review international approaches to create a sensible system for allocating underground space while supporting national development goals.

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