MASS RAPID TRANSIT PROJECT (Progress report)

Mr S. Chandra Das asked the Acting Minister for Communications (a) if he will report on the progress of the MRT project; (b) what is the level of local participation in the MRT project; (c) what impact the project has on the employment market in view of the tight labour situation; and (d) what sort of inconveniences and difficulties can Singaporeans expect during the construction period.

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Mr Speaker, Sir, the MRT project has been progressing well and is on schedule. Since the first ground-breaking ceremony in October last year, the MRT Corporation has been awarding contracts almost every month. So far, 14 out of the 32 contracts for the first phase have been awarded - nine for civil engineering, three for electrical and mechanical works and two for the design of stations and viaduct contracts. These contracts are worth approximately $717 million.

Since civil engineering works are the most visible to the public, I would like to give an account of the work that has been done so far. Work has already begun at the Shan Road site. The tunnel will be bored in two directions - southwards to Novena and northwards to Toa Payoh. At Empress Place, work started in January this year on a 3.2 km tunnel which will link the Raffles Place and City Hall stations. Part of the tunnel will be under the Singapore River. At the San Teng site, construction has also begun on the tunnel between Braddell and San Teng stations. The tunnel will be directly under a block of flats in Toa Payoh North, so underpinning work is now being carried out to provide additional support for this block before construction of the tunnel begins. At other MRT sites, excavation, piling and other mobilization works are currently progressing steadily.

Sir, we are very pleased with the high level of local participation in the project so far. Of the nine civil engineering contracts, six have been awarded to joint ventures involving local contractors. The Corporation is encouraging as many joint ventures with local contractors through a scheme whereby a preferential margin of between 2 1/2% - 5% of the contract sum is given to contracts involving local contractors. Two contracts have been awarded so far as a result of this preferential scheme.

It is unlikely that the MRT project will impose any serious strain on the labour market. The total manpower required for the project this year is only about 6,000 and will rise to about 10,000 at the height of construction activity in 1986.

On its part, the Corporation is actively helping contractors to recruit as many experienced construction workers as possible, especially those with experience, from Hong Kong.

There will inevitably be some disruption and inconvenience to the public. Traffic will have to be diverted in some areas and traffic flow may not be as free-flowing as they are today. All this is inevitable, but the MRT Corporation will try its best to keep the level of disruption as low as possible.

On the other hand, the MRT Corporation also hopes that the public will appreciate the difficulties that it has to work under. It will inform the public of the progress of the project. Wherever possible, the staff from the Corporation will meet those affected by the construction and will try to explain the problem as openly as possible.

Mr Chandra Das: Sir, in view of the recent flooding that took place in Singapore, what additional safety measures has the MRT Corporation taken, particularly in the construction of the tunnels?

Dr Yeo Ning Hong: Sir, as is well known, the MRT will be going underground and at certain stretches under water, under the Singapore River. Therefore, all due precautions will be taken by the Corporation to ensure that it is completely safe even in certain parts where there would be flooding.

In fact, Sir, the traffic jams that were the result of mass flooding recently in Singapore would, to a certain extent, be greatly alleviated by the ability of the MRT to operate even under difficult conditions of flooding.