ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING SYSTEM (Progress)

Mr Heng Chiang Meng asked the Minister for Communications if he will report on the progress of the electronic road pricing system.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Mah Bow Tan): Mr Speaker, Sir, tenders for the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) system were invited on 27th March 1992. Five tenderers submitted their proposals when tenders closed on 23rd July 1992.

Evaluation of the tenders has been completed. We are now in the process of inviting the successful tenderers to undertake a Demonstration Project. As I explained in Parliament yesterday, during this demonstration project phase, the successful tenderers will each develop their own system and each of these systems will be tested to ensure that it meets our requirements. After evaluation of the demonstration projects, the final contract will be awarded. We expect to award the final contract some time in 1994 and we expect the ERP system to become operational in 1997.