CONCESSIONARY FARE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

CONCESSIONARY FARE FOR SENIOR CITIZENS

42.

Assoc. Prof. Fatimah Lateef asked the Minister for Transport whether in the central bus planning process, LTA will consider granting concessionary fare for senior citizens who start their journeys earlier than 9.00 am on weekdays.

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43.

Er Lee Bee Wah asked the Minister for Transport if he will consider (i) allowing senior citizens concession when they alight from buses or trains before 9.00 am; and (ii) giving further concession fares to working senior citizens who are earning reduced wages.

Mr Raymond Lim Siang Keat: The Land Transport Authority (LTA), in its new role as the central bus network planner, looks at various aspects of the physical bus network, including bus routes, service specifications and infrastructure facilities, and plans for the network holistically, taking into consideration the development of rail lines and other related transport infrastructure. However, LTA's new role does not extend to setting of fare policies which remain under

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the ambit of the Public Transport Council (PTC), nor to terms and conditions of concession fares which are granted by the public transport operators.

On senior citizen concession, both Assoc. Prof. Fatimah Lateef and Er Lee Bee Wah asked if more concessionary benefits can be given to senior citizens. Today, senior citizens enjoy concessionary travel from 9.00 am on weekdays and full day on weekends and Public Holidays. This is a result of the extension of concession hours for senior citizens by operators over the years. As the costs of such concessions are cross-subsidised by other full-fare paying commuters, the operators would have to take this into consideration when considering any change to the concessionary schemes. Nonetheless, the Government encourages the public transport operators to extend concessions where they are able to do so.

For low-income families, including senior citizens, who may still need additional assistance, the Government will continue to assist these families and senior citizens through various community-led initiatives and work support schemes under the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports/Community Development Councils and the CCC ComCare Fund.

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