Orchard Road no longer unique

Not much can be done to perk up Orchard Road (Bring overhead garden concept to Orchard Road; May 1).

Pedestrianising it would be pointless; it would bring in the crowds temporarily, but they would become jaded after a month or two, and it would be back to square one.

This is about natural attrition. There are now many new attractions in Singapore: Marina Bay, Gardens by the Bay, and countless others.

These visitor-magnets have made the unique Orchard Road of the 1970s no longer as attractive to both locals and foreigners; what is more, online shopping has reduced the number of shoppers there.

Let us not lose too much sleep over it. Yes, we must still inject some life into the place, but what we have been doing is good enough: Occasional road closures, with some pomp. But no permanent road closures, please.