LIGHT-RAIL TRAIN TO SENTOSA

Mr Steve Chia Kiah Hong asked the Minister for Trade and Industry (a) if building a light-rail train from HarbourFront MRT to Sentosa is the solution to making Sentosa exciting; (b) if he expects the $140 million invested in the monorail to be recoverable, and within what timeframe; and (c) will this project be a waste of public money.

BG George Yong-Boon Yeo: The Sentosa Express is a light rail line linking HarbourFront MRT Station to Sentosa. Sentosa Development Corporation (SDC) is embarking on this project as part of its Masterplan to remake Sentosa as a world-class resort destination.

To make Sentosa a more attractive resort destination for both Singaporeans and foreign tourists, SDC is bringing in major new leisure offerings. Under the Master Plan, visitorship to Sentosa is expected to grow from 4.1 million in 2002 to six million in 2006, and eight million in 2012. The Sentosa Express will connect seamlessly with the MRT network, and facilitate this larger movement of visitors to and around Sentosa. Visitors will be able to enjoy greater convenience and much shorter waiting times. The current bus service plying between the mainland and Sentosa will not be able to cater to the growth in visitors without causing congestion at the causeway and the surrounding roads. Similarly, the existing monorail system on Sentosa island, which is 20 years old, has limited capacity and has become increasingly difficult to maintain.

The Sentosa Express project costs $140 million, and is expected to fully recover the capital and operating costs in the eighth year of operation. Besides being economically viable in its own right, it will generate spin-offs for Sentosa by allowing more visitors to access the island's attractions, and by encouraging new investments. It is also part of the broader infrastructure that will support a larger flow of tourists to Singapore.