MASS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM

Mr Ng Kah Ting asked the Minister for Communications and Acting Minister for Culture what is the latest position of the proposed Mass Rapid Transit System; and whether a firm decision has been taken on its implementation and, if not, why not.

The Minister for Communications and Acting Minister for Culture (Mr Ong Teng Cheong): Mr Speaker, Sir, I have informed the House in March last year [Hansard, Vol. 37, Cols. 1009-101 that the engineering and economic feasibility study of a bus-rail MRT system for Singapore had been completed under Phase I and Phase II of the Mass Transit Study. I also said that further design and engineering studies would be carried out to obtain a set of technically accurate data on MRT track and station requirements.

Recently, a Consultant firm was engaged to carry out the Phase III study. Apart from determining the preliminary engineering design, it will also provide a more accurate cost-estimate of the system.

We have not made a firm decision to implement the MRT. As I told the House last year, the MRT cannot be treated purely as a transportation project because its implementation has much wider implications. Therefore, a decision can only be taken after all factors have been carefully considered.

Nevertheless, we hope to be able to make a decision after the Phase III study.

Mr Ng Kah Ting: Sir, if the Ministry cannot take any definite decision after three phases of study have been completed, has the Minister not taken into consideration the question of rising costs? In other words, if a firm decision cannot be taken, then I do not foresee any decision to be taken at all.

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: Sir, for the information of the Member, the Government is very much aware of the effects of rising costs. We ourselves would like to have a decision made as early as possible, but the project cost is of such a magnitude that we have to make a careful study before a decision can be made. As I have mentioned earlier, I sincerely hope that a decision will be made soon after the Phase III study.

Mr Ho See Beng: Sir, I would like to know from the Minister how much money will go to waste in the end, if this MRT project cannot materialise?

Mr Ong Teng Cheong: If the Member considers the money spent in carrying out these studies as a waste, then perhaps I should give him some indication as to how much the studies will cost us. The Phase I and Phase II studies have cost us $4 1/2 million. The Phase III study will probably cost us another $3 1/2 to $4 million. So if the decision eventually is not to proceed with the MRT system, then the money wasted would be about $8 to $9 million.