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SINGAPORE : Not all of the six new Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) gantries need to be switched on in November. Transport Minister Raymond Lim offered this little nugget of hope to motorists at a talk to the Press Club on Friday.
ERP was an obvious hot topic at the talk, especially as it comes after rates went up at about half of all gantries in the central business and shopping areas, while five new gantries along the Singapore River were added in July.
Explaining the rationale, the minister said such road pricing was a measure of last resort.
He said: "We recognise that such system-wide changes will have a significant impact on people's lives. So let's roll it out in phases, and as we roll it out in phases, we hope we might end up doing much less than we have to."
He added that since the July changes, speeds have picked up on many of these roads.
Thus, not all six new gantries that the Land Transport Authority had previously announced would be switched on in November, may have to become operational.
These are the ones along Serangoon Road, Commonwealth Avenue, Jalan Bukit Merah, Alexandra Road, AYE-westbound near Alexandra Road and PIE-westbound near Eunos.
There was also a nugget of good news for public transport commuters - bus passengers may get higher transfer rebates. Details are expected to be announced next week.
This means the majority of bus passengers who make one or more transfers stand to benefit.
During question time, Mr Lim was asked if fares for children could be waived, in light of Singapore's family-friendly thrust.
The answer was that it boiled down to a question of government intervention and cross-subsidies - a path it is not likely to take.
Click here to read the full text of Transport Minister Raymond Lim's speech.
- CNA/ms
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