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SINGAPORE: Half-height platform screen doors will go up at three MRT stations by the end of this year.
The first sets of doors were installed at the Pasir Ris MRT station on Wednesday.
In December, apart from Pasir Ris, the 1.5 metre-high doors will also start operating at Jurong East and Yishun stations.
The doors are meant to enhance commuter safety at above-ground MRT stations, and aimed at preventing people from falling onto the tracks.
Authorities said since 2006, 92 people have fallen onto the tracks, whether by accident or otherwise. The 1.5-metre barriers are high enough to deter attempted suicides.
Land Transport Authority's (LTA) group director of rail, Chua Chong Kheng, said: "From our review, it was felt that platform screen doors would positively prevent accidental intrusions on the track and therefore increasing safety of the commuters on the platform.
"There were options whether to go full height or half height. We took the balance of comfort and safety and the overall balance in our review felt that half height screen doors was the right thing to do."
Mr Chua also said there will also be other systems in place to deter people from climbing over the screen doors and onto the tracks.
"(We will install) cameras to detect such issues, and we will also rely on commuters to actually help to make reports when they see such instances."
Train operator SMRT said suicide attempts generally result in service disruptions, usually lasting for an hour due to police investigations.
It typically takes four to six months to prepare and fully install the doors at one MRT station, as works can be carried out only during the wee hours of the morning, when the trains are not running.
From early next year, the LTA will install the safety doors at MRT stations on the East-West line, starting from Clementi and Buona Vista, before commencing work on the North-South line.
By 2012, all 36 above-ground MRT stations will have the doors.
Most commuters 938LIVE spoke to welcomed the addition, as they believe the doors can prevent accidental intrusion onto the tracks.
"When it's too crowded, and people start to push each other around, then it can stop that from happening," said a passenger.
However, some raised concerns about ventilation. "I think it's very unsightly. It just blocks the flow of... the air. (The air) doesn't flow from left to right. Mainly it's unsightly," said another commuter.
Others think above-ground stations should be completely covered.
"Maybe they should close up (everything), maybe they should do something like that," said a passenger. "Maybe it will cost more, but safety comes first of course."
The entire project will cost S$126 million.
- CNA/938LIVE/yb/ls
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