SINGAPORE: A S$24.7m contract to build Singapore's new budget
air terminal has just been awarded.
The government also plans to increase the ports' handling capacity
by more than 60 percent by adding 16 berths to Pasir Panjang
Terminal's current 26.
These berths will be able to accommodate mega-vessels.
Meanwhile, a transport network is being developed for the New
Downtown at Marina Bay.
The Ministry of Transport outlined these plans in its Addendum to
the President's Address in parliament charting the future direction
for Singapore.
The ministry also said the 3 percent cap on vehicle population will
be looked at as part of an overall review.
But that cap has not been reached in the last seven years, and with
COE prices falling, dealers and analysts don't expect major
changes.
The contract to build the budget air terminal at the Changi airport
was awarded to Sanchoon Builders.
Building will start this quarter with the terminal expected to be
ready within a year.
It will be able to handle 2.7 million passengers for a start and
will be able to expand if the need arises.
The Departure and Arrival buildings for the budget air terminal
will be side by side and connected by linkways.
Departing passengers will clear immigration and security and head
to one of six boarding areas.
And they'll walk - rain or shine - about 20 metres to the
aircraft.
Arriving passengers will also walk back to the Arrival building
which will have money changers, food stalls and duty-free
shopping.
There will be no skytrain.
Instead, a shuttle bus service will ferry passengers to existing
terminals.
With associated building works like taxi-ways and aircraft parking
stands, the total price tag for the budget terminal will come up to
S$45m.
Commenting on the review of the 3% limit on vehicle population,
Gerard Ee, president of the Automobile Association, said: "A review
does not necessarily mean any adjustment. The current car market is
so weak and demand pretty low as indicated by falling COE prices,
there's no compelling need to increase."
The ultimate aim of the government, of course, is to reduce upfront
vehicle costs and shift more to usage costs.
So, the ERP cordon is expected to be increased and at different
times.
But, analysts caution that this is a delicate balancing game -
price it too high and Singapore's expensive roads will be
under-utilised. - CNA
Read the Ministry of Transport's Addendum to the President's
Address
They are reclaiming more land for PPT