LIGHT RAIL TRANSIT SYSTEM IN HOUGANG (Construction)

Dr Ker Sin Tze asked the Minister for Communications and Information Technology whether the Land Transport Authority has decided to construct a Light Rail Transit system to connect with the North East Mass Rapid Transit system in the area bounded by Hougang Avenue 1, Hougang Avenue 3 and Lorong Ah Soo.

The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Communications and Information Technology (Assoc. Prof. Yaacob Ibrahim) (for the Minister for Communications and Information Technology): Mr Speaker, Sir, the Land Transport Authority has drawn up a long-term Rapid Transit System (RTS) Master Plan to meet the transport needs of the nation up till the year 2030. The plan provides for a comprehensive network of RTS lines, and includes orbital RTS lines, which will provide direct connections between the residential estates, such as Hougang and other sub-regional centres.

However, LTA needs to conduct detailed studies on each of these lines in the Master Plan before it is in a position to make a recommendation to the Government on whether and when to proceed with the development of each line.

The detailed studies on the lines serving the Hougang estates have not been completed, but with the completion of the North-East MRT Line in 2002, the public transport system for the residents in the area defined by Dr Ker will be greatly improved.