ELECTRONIC ROAD PRICING GADGETS AND ELECTRONIC METERS FOR CAR PARKING (Integration)

[Mr Speaker in the Chair]

Mr R. Sinnakaruppan asked the Minister for Communications if the proposed Electronic Road Pricing gadgets to be fitted into motor vehicles will be integrated with the proposed electronic meters for car parking.

The Minister of State for Communications (Dr John Chen Seow Phun) (for the Minister for Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, we are the first country to introduce ERP on such a large scale. The design of the ERP system is complex. It has to take into account many operational details. While it might be ideal to integrate the ERP In-vehicle Unit (IU) with other uses such as an electronic-timer parking meter, the LTA did not do so for the current version of IU in order to focus on the implementation of the ERP first.

However, even with the current version of IU, it is technically possible for car park operators to use the IU for payment of car parking charges by erecting a gantry at the entrance and exit of the car park, thus automating its car park operation.

LTA will consider incorporating other features as they extend the use of the ERP system in the future.

Mr R. Sinnakaruppan (Kreta Ayer-Tanglin): Sir, as the Minister of State has said that it is technically possible to incorporate at the gantry the car parking system, would his Ministry work with URA and other car park operators to ensure that this is done in the first phase of the ERP?

Dr John Chen Seow Phun: Mr Speaker, Sir, I will put forward the suggestion to URA, HDB, car park operators, and it is up to them to consider whether it is feasible.