Naming Rights of Public Infrastructure and Roads

Mrs Lina Chiam asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the Ministry will consider (i) selling the naming rights of public infrastructure and roads to private organisations and persons; and (ii) involving the public in public infrastructure naming exercises to foster a sense of public belonging; and (b) whether he will explain the current process and systems of naming public infrastructure.

Mr Khaw Boon Wan: The Government retains the naming rights of public buildings, roads and other key public infrastructure. It does not sell these rights to private organisations or individuals. Some public buildings or roads may be named after organisations or foundations to recognise their significant philanthropic or other contributions to Singapore. Government agencies have involved the public in the naming of the infrastructure they own. For example, "My Waterway @ Punggol" and "Rail Corridor" were names that were adopted after public consultations.

Proposed names are submitted to the Street and Building Names Board (SBNB) for evaluation and adoption. Besides ensuring that it provides clear directional cues to the public, the selected name should seek to reflect the character of the place. The historical and cultural contexts of the surroundings are, therefore, important considerations.