WHEN the Malayan Railway line was constructed over a century
ago, by linking tiny Singapore to the vast Eurasian hinterland, it
symbolised connectivity and progress (''Nature corridor' proposal
for railway land'; last Saturday).
Over the years, it has acquired a rich patina of history not
only as an important transport link, but also in the collective
memory of people who have travelled to and from Singapore.
In recent decades, the line had come to be viewed as politically
divisive and a thorny barrier to efficient land use planning. But
it still connects people and places and, because it is one of the
rare places on the island left untouched by development, has
evolved an intricate network of micro-ecosystems.
Now that the political differences have been resolved, it is not
surprising for public interest to be focused on the fate of the
line.
The most unimaginative 'solution' - and a costly mistake - would
be for policymakers, planners and developers to parcel out the land
as real estate, dismantle the line and erase the railway.
A more inclusive and considered approach would have recognised
their value as ballast in nation-building and sustainable
development.
By exploring more creative, sensitive and inclusive ways of
using the railway and its land, we would be enhancing rather than
reducing its value.
Dr Geh Min
Immediate Past President
Nature Society (Singapore)