Committee of Supply 2023 debate, Day 6: S Iswaran on building a resilient, sustainable and inclusive transport sector

Singapore’s air, sea and land transport sectors are back on track after the “debilitating” impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and are now gearing up for growth, Transport Minister S Iswaran told Parliament on Friday (Mar 3). He said his ministry has three priorities - capacity, capability and sustainability. It will invest in transport infrastructure capacity to meet future needs and major projects are progressing well. Capabilities will be strengthened by investing in the workforce, redesigning jobs and deepening skillsets. On sustainability, electrification will be a key lever to reduce domestic emissions. The Government will establish a S$50 million aviation sustainability programme to support feasibility trials and research studies, and bring stakeholders together to create innovative solutions for a more sustainable air hub. Three initiatives have already been identified. All new airside light vehicles such as cars, vans and mini-buses at Changi Airport will have to be electric from 2025. Charging infrastructure will be enhanced, tripling the current number of about 100 charging stations over the next few years. Trials will also begin on the use of renewable diesel, especially for specialised airport ground-handling vehicles for which there are no electric models. In his speech, Mr Iswaran also elaborated on addressing high motorcycle COE premiums, making road design more inclusive and expanding the range of choices in the transport system to meet needs that might currently be underserved.