PASIR RIS MRT STATION (Construction of covered linkways)

Mr Charles Chong asked the Minister for Communications whether covered walkways from the Pasir Ris MRT Station to nearby bus stops and a vehicle drop-off and pick-up point will be constructed and, if so, when construction is expected to commence.

Dr John Chen Seow Phun (for the Minister for Communications): I am pleased to inform the Member that the Land Transport Authority (LTA) will construct covered linkways from the Pasir Ris MRT station to nearby bus stops along Pasir Ris Drive 1. The linkways will incorporate a vehicle drop-off and pick-up point along Pasir Ris Central. The design for the linkways is being developed and the LTA plans to call for tenders later this year. Construction work will take about eight months to complete, after the tender is awarded.

Mr Choo Wee Khiang (Jalan Besar): Sir, I wonder whether the Minister of State can tell the House whether such a project will be implemented island-wide, where applicable.

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Members can put in their requests to the LTA and LTA will assess the merits of the requests on a case-by-case basis. LTA will then reply to the Member.

Mr Choo Wee Khiang: As a matter of convenience, would the Ministry be able to get the officials to study such a project on an island-wide basis, rather than on an ad hoc basis?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Firstly, Sir, I have told LTA that, wherever possible, LTA would contact the Member, who requested for such facilities, to study the request together with the engineers from LTA. So LTA will be helpful in considering each request. As you can see from the request, it involves drop-off and pick-up points. So it may not be applicable in every case. It is difficult to do a comprehensive study for all constituencies. But I would encourage Members to take up their requests with LTA, and LTA would try to be helpful.

Mr Chng Hee Kok: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Minister of State will recall that this is one of the issues raised in the paper "World Class Land Transport System", whereby it was envisaged that all MRT stations be integrated with the bus interchanges, to make it convenient for all residents. So why is the Ministry or LTA not looking into this issue, as raised by my hon. friend, on an island-wide basis and not on an ad hoc basis?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Sir, I am talking of the more unique requests. But for bus stops and linkways, I am pleased to inform Members that LTA has decided to implement a nation-wide programme to upgrade the bus shelters and the linkways to MRT stations. That programme would cost about $24 million.

Dr S. Vasoo (Tanjong Pagar): Mr Speaker, Sir, while supporting the issue raised by Mr Chng Hee Kok, what I want to ask is why is LTA not proactive in trying to look at some of the problems.

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Sir, as I said, as far as proactiveness is concerned, that is what they are going to do. They are now going to implement this nation-wide programme of upgrading the bus stops and to fit the programme into the IUP and MUP of the constituencies, so that when you have a new environment after the IUP, you also have new linkways and bus shelters. So these are the programmes that the LTA has taken the initiative to launch. But as for other requests, as I mentioned, pick-up points and drop-off points, I do not think they will be applicable in every case.

Dr Vasoo: Sir, besides IUP and MUP, there are other commuter needs. Why is the LTA not looking at other types of needs other than this tying-up with IUP and MUP?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: I am not saying that we will only tie up with IUP and MUP. There are criteria for upgrading of bus shelters, for instance. You cannot upgrade a bus shelter if it is only a few years old. There are certain criteria. Where there are IUP and MUP, I think you will get priority because we do not want to have a case where you have got a brand new environment but a very old bus shelter. So that is not so good. This is the rationale behind our programme.

Mr Chng Hee Kok: A more general question, Sir. I share the concerns of my colleagues. Is the LTA doing anything about the paper on the "World Class Land Transport System"? It is not collecting dust, I hope.

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Sir, this question is not relevant to the question that the Member has asked about bus shelters and linkways. I think we will answer that question in the Committee of Supply on the progress that we have made for a World Class Land Transport System.

The Minister for Communications (Mr Mah Bow Tan): Just to add to what my Minister of State said just now. I would like to assure Mr Chng and the rest of the Members of this House that the White Paper on a World Class Land Transport System is not collecting dust. In fact, as the Minister of State has said, he will be giving further details during the debate in the Committee of Supply. But on the specific point raised by Mr Chng and Dr Vasoo and the rest, there is in fact an on-going programme to connect all MRT stations with the nearest bus stops and other commuter facilities of that nature are now in the works. I think the specific question that was raised on whether there was going to be extension to the MRT station in Mr Charles Chong's constituency has been answered.