Govt hopes to keep continuous rail corridor

July 28, 2011 by admin
Filed under News

By Grace Chua, The Straits Times, 28 Jul 2011.

The Government hopes to keep the former Keretapi Tanah Melayu (KTM) railway land a continuous stretch as far as possible, said Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin in a meeting with the media yesterday.

Plans for the tract will be firmed up over the next two years, and details will be included in the Urban Redevelopment Authority’s (URA) 2013 land-use Master Plan, he added.

Referring to the 26km tract which stretches from Tanjong Pagar to Woodlands, he said: ‘I imagine there are stretches which we will keep, some we would develop in a way that makes sense, but the idea of it as a continuous stretch is something we would very much like to do.

‘It’s about keeping the spirit of it as much as the physical.’

Nature, heritage and other interest groups have pushed to keep the tract unbroken. Last October, they sent the authorities a proposal to preserve it as a ‘green corridor’ which could be used for bird watching, cycling and other recreational activities.

The railway land reverted to Singapore from July 1 this year and, since then, thousands of people have strolled along the rails. Most of the tracks and small railway structures must be removed by the year end and returned, in agreement with Malaysia.

But the railway tracks at Tanjong Pagar and Bukit Timah railway stations, as well as two large bridges, are to be retained.

The government agencies will engage interest groups and the public when deciding on what to do with the former KTM railway, said Brigadier-General (NS) Tan.

He told reporters: ‘My view, and I do hold this strongly, is that this whole effort with the railway corridor isn’t about the end product – what you’re going to build, what you’re going to develop, what you’re going to keep.

‘I think the process in itself is part of that whole effort – how we bring different groups with different views together. I think it’s important… We are starting this engagement effort very early on.’

As part of URA’s 2013 Master Plan, a land-use document reviewed every five years, the rail corridor plans will guide land use in the area over the next decade or so.

An advisory committee, made up of nature, heritage and other interest groups as well as representatives from URA and the National Parks Board, will meet every one to two months to discuss suggestions from the public and advise URA on public engagement.

URA has also put up a website, www.ura.gov.sg/railcorridor, to explain the project and ask for feedback from the public.

So far, suggestions from the committee and interest groups include getting the 98 schools along the railway land involved, holding a design competition for architects and planners to develop a master plan for the area, and organising an exhibition about the railway’s social, cultural and natural history.

BG Tan also urged the public to heed safety measures such as hoardings, and not to draw graffiti on walls and bridges. Scratching steel bridges, for instance, damages their protective anti-rust coating.

Responding to BG Tan’s comments, nature lover and avid runner Ryan Tan, 29, said: ‘I think keeping (the railway land) as continuous as possible is a great idea, as it would offer Singaporeans a connected plot of nature to hike on and enjoy. For example, some of the existing park connectors are not strictly continuous.’

Visitors, be careful

Parts of the former KTM railway line are now hoarded up for track removal works, and the public is advised to be careful while visiting the area, said Minister of State for National Development Tan Chuan-Jin yesterday.

As agreed with Malaysia, most of the tracks and rail structures must be removed and returned by Dec 31.

Brigadier-General (NS) Tan said: ‘I guess the public would still go and wander around, but they should just be careful.’

For instance, there are areas hoarded up for safety and people should not climb over the barriers, he said.

Source: The Straits Times

Tags: advisory committee, consultation process, graffiti, Interest Groups, Master Plan, MND, NParks, NSS, Tan Chuan-Jin, URA