Transport

• Gan Thiam Poh asked whether lifts will be installed at overhead bridges in Fernvale to assist seniors and families with young children.
• Chee Hong Tat stated that since 2018, all new pedestrian overhead bridges include lifts, and retrofitting of older ones focuses on high-traffic locations near transit hubs and healthcare facilities.
• LTA has already included the Fernvale bridge along Sengkang West Way in its retrofitting programme and will continue evaluating other bridges in the area.

• Mr Saktiandi Supaat questioned how much of the EV tax rebates reach consumers and whether dealers absorb them via markups or higher COE bids.
• He asked if the Government should reform the COE system to accelerate greener vehicle uptake.
• Minister Chee Hong Tat deferred the reply to the 12 November 2024 Parliament sitting, referencing a related review on vehicle growth policy and rebates.

• Gan Thiam Poh asked if the Ministry would allow private operators to provide direct bus services from Fernvale to the CBD during peak hours, citing that existing public bus service 671 is insufficient for residents.
• The Land Transport Authority responded that it welcomes private bus operators to offer additional services to complement public transport and provide more travel options for Fernvale residents.
• Fernvale residents already have access to privately operated Premium Bus Services 550 and 592 to the CBD, which operate along Sengkang West Avenue, Sengkang West Way, and Jalan Kayu.

• Ong Hua Han asked the Minister for Transport about the timeline for concluding feasibility studies on a new rail line in the north and northeast regions under the Land Transport Master Plan 2040 and whether an update will be provided in the next LTMP revision.
• Chee Hong Tat responded that rail projects require careful consideration of factors like land-use needs, engineering feasibility, and environmental impact, and highlighted current and upcoming enhancements including new bus services, the opening of Punggol Coast station, and the Cross Island Line Phase 1 and Punggol Extension in the early 2030s.
• The Minister indicated that feasibility studies are ongoing and that any new rail line would be considered in future LTMP updates based on study outcomes and overall transport planning priorities.

• The Land Transport Authority will use existing road-facing cameras on buses to detect vehicles encroaching on bus lanes, illegal parking, and road defects for operational efficiency and safety, not for general surveillance.
• The LTA has no plans to use video footage to identify faces and link them to the NRIC database, and any government agency access to data must follow prevailing laws and security guidelines.
• Existing cameras on public buses are intended to support passenger safety and incident investigations, with data usage subject to safeguards to protect individual privacy.

• Dr Lim Wee Kiak asked the Minister for Transport for the current number of EVs registered for season parking in HDB carparks and whether there are plans to increase EV charging lots in carparks with a higher number of such EVs.
• As of end-September 2024, there are about 8,800 EVs registered with season parking at HDB carparks.
• The average EV charger utilisation rate at HDB carparks is under 10% and is currently sufficient to meet demand.
• The government closely monitors EV charger utilisation and works with operators to scale up deployment where necessary.

• The Road Traffic (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill aims to amend the Road Traffic Act 1961 and the Motor Vehicles (Third-Party Risks and Compensation) Act 1960, while repealing the School Crossing Patrols Act 1955.
• The bill was presented by the Minister of State for Home Affairs (Assoc Prof Dr Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim) on behalf of the Minister for Home Affairs.
• The bill underwent its First Reading and was scheduled for a Second Reading at the next available Parliament sitting, with proceedings to be printed.

• The recent LRT train breakdown was caused by a gear failure in a wheel assembly, which led to tyre deflation and a power trip; SMRT responded with shuttle services and free buses while repairs were completed overnight.
• The Bukit Panjang LRT renewal works are progressing, with new and upgraded trains entering service by end-2025, core systems being enhanced, and dual-loop services expected to resume on weekdays in the coming months, aiming for full completion in 2026.
• The Minister emphasised that safety remains a priority during upgrades, with early closures scheduled to facilitate works, and the overall MRT network's reliability has improved, meeting the target of at least one million train-kilometres between failures.

Saktiandi Supaat asked about the regulatory oversight of the Ministry of Transport over rail operators' operational decisions, particularly regarding maintenance procedures. He also inquired about enhancements made to maintenance for reliability since previous MRT disruptions in 2011 and 2017 and how the Ministry balances the costs of over-maintenance with the prevention of service disruptions. Chee Hong Tat indicated that the question had been addressed in a Ministerial Statement on 15 October 2024.

Saktiandi Supaat raised several questions about the effectiveness of predictive maintenance systems used by MRT rail operators, specifically regarding their role in preventing train failures and detecting risks associated with a recent service disruption. Chee Hong Tat indicated that these questions were previously addressed in a Ministerial Statement on 15 October 2024, which detailed the status of the rail system's safety and reliability. The findings from the investigation into the recent disruption and interim measures to prevent future occurrences were also mentioned as covered in that statement.

Hazel Poa asked about the average time intervals for feeder Bus Service 944 during peak and non-peak hours in 2023, as well as any changes following its extension and renaming to Bus Service 992. Chee Hong Tat responded that Service 992 was extended to serve Tengah in September 2023 and that improvements were made to its frequencies for 2024. As of August 2024, Service 992 had an average frequency of four minutes during peak hours and eight minutes during off-peak hours, which is an improvement from Service 944's frequencies of eight minutes and 14 minutes, respectively, in August 2023. The LTA will continue to monitor ridership and adjust services as needed.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the tracking of road traffic accident locations in Singapore and the possibility of publishing a database for research and advocacy. K Shanmugam confirmed that the Traffic Police records locations of accidents that involve injuries and fatalities, which are used for enforcement and infrastructure assessments. The Land Transport Authority already publishes a list of high accident locations under the Black Spot Programme, where safety measures are implemented.

Dennis Tan Lip Fong asked the Minister for Home Affairs about the number of people punished for specific breaches of the Road Traffic (Pedestrian Crossings) Rules over the last five years and the range of punishments received. K Shanmugam provided data indicating that motorists caught violating these rules may receive a warning or a composition sum between $100 and $250, depending on the offence. Additionally, Rule 6 offenders can incur four to six demerit points based on their vehicle type.

Don Wee raised concerns about the six-day shutdown of the East-West MRT Line in September 2024, including its impact on bus service standards, whether it could have been prevented, and what lessons were learned for future maintenance and reliability. Christopher de Souza asked about the possibility of reviewing how train operators can prevent issues leading to train components falling off and damaging infrastructure. Chee Hong Tat indicated that these issues were addressed in a Ministerial Statement issued on 15 October 2024.

Ang Wei Neng asked the Minister for Transport about issues faced by Singapore motorists crossing the Causeway post-implementation of the Vehicle Entry Permit (VEP) scheme by Malaysia, specifically regarding difficulties in obtaining the VEP. Chee Hong Tat responded that the Malaysia Vehicle Entry Permit (MVEP) is required by the Malaysian Road Transport Department and indicated that the Land Transport Authority has communicated feedback from Singapore motorists on this matter to Malaysian authorities.

Hany Soh asked the Minister for Transport about Malaysia's new policy requiring Singapore private vehicle owners to obtain a Vehicle Entry Permit before leaving Malaysia starting October 1, 2024. She expressed concern over potential penalties for Singapore drivers not complying with the new rule. Chee Hong Tat clarified that the Vehicle Entry Permit is a Malaysian requirement governed by their Road Transport Department.

Gan Thiam Poh raised concerns about Singaporeans needing to provide personal information, including passport, NRIC, and bank details, to overseas entities for applications related to Malaysia's Vehicle Entry Permit and Touch 'n Go e-Wallet account. Chee Hong Tat clarified that the Malaysia Vehicle Entry Permit is governed by the Malaysian Road Transport Department, indicating it is outside the Singapore government's jurisdiction.

Lim Biow Chuan questioned the Minister for Transport about the requirement for insurance for electric vehicle (EV) charging stations against fire and damage. The Minister of State for Transport, Murali Pillai, confirmed that EV charging operators must maintain public liability insurance of at least $2 million, covering personal injury and property damage, including fire incidents. Lim expressed concerns about safety following a fire incident in Seoul and inquired about additional safety measures like sprinklers and fire extinguishers at charging stations. Murali Pillai stated that the Land Transport Authority is monitoring the situation, noting a low incidence of vehicle fires in Singapore, and clarified that the insurance covers both property damage and personal injury to third parties.

Chua Kheng Wee Louis questioned the Minister for Transport about BYD's recall of 97,000 electric vehicles (EVs) and whether the Land Transport Authority (LTA) was informed about this recall and conducting its own inspections on affected models. The Minister of State for Transport, Murali Pillai, confirmed that BYD has notified LTA that vehicles sold in Singapore are not part of the recall, and LTA will monitor the situation for safety concerns. Chua sought clarification on whether LTA conducts independent checks on popular vehicle models, to which Murali replied that all vehicles must meet international safety standards and undergo periodic inspections, but LTA does not perform additional tests for recalled vehicles. Motor dealers must report recalls to LTA and inform affected vehicle owners for rectification.

Saktiandi Supaat raised questions on the Fare Review Exercise 2024, focusing on its financial impact on transport operators and how deferred fare adjustments might affect service improvements and infrastructure funding. Neil Parekh Nimil Rajnikant further inquired about the reasons for the fare revision recommendation and the steps taken by transport operators to enhance service levels. The Minister for Transport, Chee Hong Tat, explained that the Public Transport Council aims to balance fare affordability with financial sustainability, announcing a decision to increase fares by 6% while monitoring the impact on lower-income households through Public Transport Vouchers. Chee also highlighted that the government is providing $250 million in additional subsidies to mitigate the impact of fare increases and maintain service standards, while emphasizing the gradual approach to future fare adjustments.