KOVAN ROAD (Road metalling and installation of street lights)

Mr Chow Chiok Hock asked the Minister for National Development (a) whether the policy is to metal a road and install street lighting at the same time (b) whether he is aware that Kovan Road is metalled but has no street lights; and (c) when will street lights be installed in Kovan Road.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for National Development (Mr Ho Cheng Choon) (for the Minister for National Development): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have been asked by the Minister for National Development to answer the question.

(a) Yes. It is the present policy to metal a road and install street lighting at the same time. I should add that with the coming into force of the Local Government Integration Ordinance on 1st September, 1963, when a private road is made up to Government's specifications, the owners of frontages will have to pay for the road as well as for the cost of providing street lights.

(b) Kovan Road was made up under the provisions of section 133 of the Municipal Ordinance which did not require a road to be metalled and lighted at the same time. Street lights are provided according to priority. Priority is normally given to areas where schools are sited or where accidents occur frequently.

(c) That part of Kovan Road from its junction with Yio Chu Kang Road to Hillside Drive has already been lighted. It received priority because of the existence of three schools. The lighting of the remainder of Kovan Road at an estimated cost of $13,000 is under consideration.