NORTH-EAST MRT LINE (Feasibility study report)

Mr Chiam See Tong asked the Minister for Communications whether the report on the feasibility study of the North-East MRT line has been completed and, if so, whether that MRT line shall pass through the Potong Pasir Constituency.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Mr Speaker, Sir, MINCOM announced on 14th July 1995 that the Mass Rapid Transit Corporation (MRTC) had completed its feasibility study on the North-East line.

The MRTC study is based on a 20-km line running from World Trade Centre in the south to Punggol in the north. The exact route alignment, the number and location of the stations have not been finalised. These will be settled after further discussion with the land-use planning and other relevant agencies.

Mr Chiam asked whether the line would pass through Potong Pasir constituency. The answer is "yes". But the location of the station has yet to be finalised. MRTC's consultants who carried out the North-East line feasibility study had analysed various possibilities for station locations. On the possibility of having a station at Potong Pasir, this is what they had to say:

`Potong Pasir is the weakest station on the North-East line. Although there are plans to develop the area near the proposed station, it will improve the viability of North-East line, if Potong Pasir station were deferred (to save) about $1 million per year.'

Straits Times reported Mr Chiam on 27th July 1995 as saying apropos the North-East line that "Any decision has to be made rationally." He is right. It is a $5 billion decision which must be carefully weighed. In deciding when to proceed with the construction of the North-East line and the exact alignment and station locations, the Government will take a broad view and consider other benefits that can be derived from this investment, such as reduced travel time, and an expanded and improved public transport system. The House can expect a firm decision by the end of this year.

Mr Chiam See Tong (Potong Pasir): Sir, I thank the Minister for telling the House that the North-East line shall be passing through Potong Pasir. Can the Members view the report of the feasibility study?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Sir, the feasibility study is a technical study and it contains confidential information, eg, information concerning possible alignment of the routes, locations and so on. Under the circumstances, such information at this stage would still be considered confidential and I am not prepared to release the report at this stage.

Mr Heng Chiang Meng (Cheng San GRC): Sir, as the MINCOM's statement has indicated that $5 billion is a huge sum to spend on the North-East line, may I ask the Minister whether he would consider a much cheaper option by having a fish-hook loop, branching off from Yio Chu Kang station of the North-South line to pass through Jalan Kayu, Kangkar, Punggol and Serangoon New Towns? And if it stops there, many of the stations would be above ground. I believe it would be much cheaper. Unfortunately, it will also have the unintended effect of bypassing Potong Pasir.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Sir, I have not actually thought about that particular alignment. But since the Member has raised the possibility, I think it will be an interesting exercise to see whether we can still serve the residents in that area and save the Government some money as well.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, why is the proposed station at Potong Pasir considered a "weak" station?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Sir, at each proposed station, the consultants have taken into account the ridership; in other words, they have taken into account the catchment area around that particular station, compared with the actual cost of running and operating that station. In that sense, I believe the consultants have come to the conclusion that of all the proposed stations that they have studied, the Potong Pasir station, taking the ridership from that particular station and taking the cost of operating that station, is the weakest station on that line.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, how long does the Minister expect to wait before the station can become a "strong" station so that it can be built?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Sir, at this stage, it is difficult for me to answer that question. But based on the current plans for redevelopment of that whole corridor - and this is what the study is currently based on - the ridership around that station is still not sufficient or not strong enough to warrant it being built, that is, if the consultants' recommendation is to be accepted.

Mr Chng Hee Kok (Tampines GRC): Sir, to put the matter in perspective, will the Minister tell us how does this $5 billion compare to the total cost of building the present MRT line, and how many people will benefit from this North-East line?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Sir, as the MINCOM's press release pointed out, the cost of $5 billion for the North-East line is equivalent to the total cost of building the North-South-East-West line. The North-South-East-West line today carries something like 700,000-800,000 passengers per day. As a comparison, the North-East line is expected to carry something like 200,000-250,000 passengers. The cost is the same. The ridership is roughly one-third.

Mr Low Thia Khiang (Hougang): Sir, what is the consultants' opinion about the strength of the proposed station at Hougang Central, in terms of ridership and other factors?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: It is not the weakest, Sir.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, in fact, there are two pieces of vacant land at Potong Pasir Constituency adjacent to Upper Sera ngoon Road. They are in fact ready for the construction of a station. Does the Minister not think that it would be more feasible to build the station once the line is built rather than to wait later on when prices would have gone up?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Sir, I am familiar with the two pieces of land that the Member is talking about. But I think he would also realise that building a station does not depend on whether there are empty pieces of land. It also depends on many other factors, including, as I said, the catchment area around that proposed station. In any case, if he looks at the area around his constituency, he will notice that there are many other empty pieces of land which are not within the Potong Pasir constituency.

Mr Chiam See Tong: Sir, would the North-East line follow approximately the Serangoon/Upper Serangoon Roads all the way to Punggol?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: Sir, as I said, at this stage, it will be premature for me to give too much details about the proposed alignment of the North-East line, for reasons which I think the Member himself is aware. In other words, there are certain confidential information pertaining to the alignment and the location which must necessarily be kept under wraps at this stage. But he asked a specific question and I attempted to answer that question to his satisfaction.

Mr Goh Choon Kang (Braddell Heights): Sir, can I ask the Minister how is Braddell Heights Constituency compared to Hougang and Potong Pasir?

Mr Mah Bow Tan: It is quite strong!