MASS RAPID TRANSIT SYSTEM (Extension to Punggol)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Dr Michael Lim Chun Leng asked the Minister for Communications whether there were any plans to extend the Mass Rapid Transit system to the Punggol ward of Cheng San GRC and, if so, what was the current status of such plans.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Mah Bow Tan): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Government announced in August 1988 that it has given in-principle approval for the north-east sector MRT line. Punggol will be served by this line.

However, the timing for the construction of this line will depend on HDB's programme for housing developments in the north-eastern sector. This is to ensure that there will be sufficient demand for the MRT when it is ready.

The north-east sector MRT line is estimated to cost the Government $4.3 billion (1990 prices). This is a very heavy investment. The Government is prepared to bear the construction and capital costs. But there must be sufficient traffic to cover the operating cost, otherwise the operators will have to subsidise this line with revenue from its other lines. This will eventually lead to higher fares for all MRT users.

The bulk of the housing developments in the north-east sector is due for implementation only after the year 2000. The Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) can only firm up its plans nearer this date. Meanwhile, we are undertaking technical work to determine the route alignment for this line.

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang): Sir, I would like to ask the Minister for Communications whether there will be any station in the vicinity of Hougang Avenue 2 or Hougang Avenue 10. Is such a station being planned?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Mr Speaker, Sir, as I said in my reply, the line itself is only approved in principle. We have not actually made provision for any station along the route. This will depend to a large extent on what the housing developments are like.

Dr Michael Lim Chun Leng (Cheng San GRC): Mr Speaker, Sir, may I ask the Minister for Communications, in view of the population of the north-eastern sector being substantially more than twice that of Woodlands New Town and yet a line has been laid to Woodlands New Town, this being a question that has been bothering a lot of the residents in my constituency and the detailed statistics having been brought up -

Mr Speaker: Dr Lim, no speeches. Ask your question.

Dr Michael Lim Chun Leng: Yes, I shall shorten it. Can the Minister kindly clarify whether the extension of the MRT line to Woodlands New Town is aimed primarily at encouraging Singaporeans to relocate there where there are about 70 blocks of unoccupied flats and hence priority was not given to the Punggol area and the rest of the north-eastern corridor?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Sir, the truth of the matter is that the MRTC decided to extend its line to Woodlands before the north-east sector mainly because HDB firmed up its implementation plans for housing in Woodlands before the Hougang area.

The other reason is the question of costs. The Woodlands line, according to the criteria for viability, is more likely to be viable under the present situation. It would take something like $1 billion to build the Woodlands line whereas it will cost four and a half times that to construct the north-east sector line.

Dr Michael Lim Chun Leng: Sir, may I ask the Minister for Communications whether, since the Ministry has had some technical plans available for the extension of the MRT line, can he, in his wisdom, enlighten me as to what is the most likely date that I can look forward to for a line to my constituency at the north eastern area?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Sir, it depends on many factors. I am afraid I am not able to give him a categorical answer. The Ministry of National Development will first have to firm up its plans for housing in that sector before the trains can go there. I think the question should also be directed at the Minister for National Development.

Dr Michael Lim Chun Leng: Sir, though my ardent and earnest plea on behalf of my residents in Punggol could not bring about an early solution to my request for an MRT line, in the interim, can the Minister kindly consider my humble request to increase the frequency of public transport services, such as bus services, to the nearest MRT station in Ang Mo Kio; this being a reasonable request and being in line with the Government's policy to encourage the use of public transport?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: It is a reasonable request and I will certainly ask the authorities concerned to look into it.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, since the Government has plans to bring the MRT line to Woodlands, I would like to ask the Minister whether there are also plans to extend this line to Johor Baru.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: The Government has indicated that when the line is extended to Woodlands, it will provide an opportunity for an extension, in one form or another, of a mass rapid transit system to Johor Baru. This of course would have to be undertaken jointly with the Malaysian authorities.