SINGAPORE: Work on phase two of the MRT Downtown Line (DTL2) started on Friday. When DTL2 opens in 2015, residents and students along the Bukit Timah corridor can enjoy faster access to the city area.

The S$12 billion Downtown Line consists of three phases. Phase one of the line (DTL1) is on schedule to open in 2013, while tenders for phase three of the line will be called next year.

The ground-breaking ceremony for the start of construction for the DTL2 was held near Beauty World Plaza, one of the first sites to begin work.

Transport Minister Raymond Lim was the guest-of-honour at the ceremony. Representatives from six firms which won part of the 10 civil contracts were also present to give their pledge for work safety.

DTL2 will run from Bukit Panjang, along the Bukit Timah corridor and terminate at Rochor Station, where passengers can connect at Bugis to DTL1.

60,000 students from 32 schools along DTL2 will also benefit when it opens six years later. The schools include Zhenghua Primary and Fajar Secondary at the northern end, and Lasalle SIA College and the Singapore Management University (SMU) in town.

All 12 stations will be built underground, each with unique designs.

Due to the presence of hard granite rocks at the depot area, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) had carried out blasting work for over a year, and it will employ the use of tunnel boring machines for the rest of the line.

LTA CEO, Yam Ah Mee, said: "We are using 19 tunnel boring machines to get the work done, all underground with minimal disruptions."

But certain disruptions are unavoidable, especially when stations are built using the cut-and-cover method.

Mr Yam said: "We also plan to minimise inconvenience to residents by having very comprehensive engagement with the community as well as very comprehensive traffic diversion plan at each of the areas when work is being done."

LTA says the Rochor and Beauty World stations will have the most extensive work, with Rochor Canal and Upper Bukit Timah Road to be realigned.

But residents and merchants are happy that work on DTL2 has finally begun.

Currently, residents along the Bukit Timah corridor will have to take the bus and ride on the North-South or East-West Line to get to town or the east.

However with the completion of DTL2 in 2015, their journey will be reduced by 5 to 25 minutes, or up to 30% of the total travelling time.

- CNA/ir