PESIARAN KELILING (Traffic Arrangements)

Mr S. V. Lingam asked the Deputy Prime Minister whether he will give early consideration to (a) making Pesiaran Keliling a one-way street; (b) permitting the extension of bus services into the Macpherson Housing Estate; and (c) the parking of vehicles on one side only of Pesiaran Keliling.

The Minister of State for the Prime Minister's Department (Tuan Haji Yaacob Bin Mohamed) (for the Deputy Prime Minister): (In Malay): Mr Speaker, Sir, in answer to (a) , entry into Macpherson Housing Estate and Pesiaran Keliling is via Jalan Merpati and exit via Mattar Road. Both these approach and exit roads are made into one-way streets because of their narrowness. Mattar Road is 18 feet wide and Jalan Merpati 22 feet wide.

Pesiaran Keliling, however, is 31 feet wide and the total distance is 1.1 miles round the Estate from its commencement at its junction with Jalan Merpati. This road was constructed sufficiently wide enough to carry two-way traffic. If this road were to be converted into one-way, it will be causing undue hardship and unnecessary inconvenience to the residents in this Housing Estate.

In answer to (b) , the Omnibus Services Licensing Authority has approved extensions of bus services into the Macpherson Housing Estate. The Omni-bus Services Licensing Authority has approved two S.T.C. bus services which would operate in this Housing Estate. The first is a deviation of part of S.T.C. Service No. 12, to be known as Service No. 12A, from Macpherson Housing Estate via Jalan Besar, New Bridge Road/North Bridge Road to Shenton Way. The second is an extension of S.T.C. Service No. 9 from Shenton Way via Alexandra Road, Tanglin Road, Orchard Road and Serangoon Road to Macpherson Estate.

The Omnibus Services Licensing Authority also has before it two applications from the Tay Koh Yat Bus Co. Ltd. to deviate its Service No. 11 from the junction of Aljunied Road/Geylang Road to the junction of Upper Serangoon Road/Woodsville Circus, and Service No. 12 from the junction of Aljunied Road/Geylang Road to the junction of Macpherson Road/Woodsville Circus into Macpherson Estate. These two applications were advertised in the local Press on 13th May, 1966 and will be considered by the Omnibus Services Licensing Authority one month after their publication.

In answer to (c) , it is proposed to draw a continuous white line along Pesiaran Keliling, Jalan Pipit and Jalan Balam. This will ensure that no vehicles are parked along this road and there would be a smooth flow of traffic. Sufficient car parks and parking bays have been provided in this housing estate to cater for the residents. The car parks and parking bays are now occupied by unlicensed hawkers, causing the owners of motor cars to park their vehicles on the road proper. This has created some confusion along Pesiaran Keliling, particularly at its junction with Jalan Merpati. Once the hawkers are removed to the market, which has been completed recently, the car parks and parking bays could be used for the purpose for which they are constructed. It will not, therefore, be necessary for residents to park their vehicles on the road proper.