Here are the relevant figures to compare the North South Line and the Downtown Line. I took it from the speech by the Transport Minister Khaw Boon Wan 14 Nov 2017.
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/comparing-singapores-newest-and-oldest-mrt-lines
Quote:
I asked the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to make a comparison between the two lines and highlight the differences. Thirty years separate these two lines and some of the differences are stark, to be expected.
First, the first phase of the North-South Line, cost us around $2.7 billion to build, or $4.4 billion in today's dollars. The Downtown Line cost us close to $21 billion.
The cost per kilometre has gone up from $160 million to $490 million. Each kilometre will therefore cost half a billion dollars - partly due to technology and partly due to inflation.
Second, the North-South Line is about 40 per cent underground while the Downtown Line is completely underground.
Third, the North-South Line has 26 stations, of which eight, or 30 per cent are interchange stations. The Downtown Line has 34 stations, of which 11, or 32 per cent are interchange stations.
Unquote:
Here is my analysis.
The number of stations increased by 30%. All the stations of the Downtown Line are underground.
Allowing for these two factors, I consider that the cost of the Downtown Line should be 2.5 times of the North South Line, i.e. $4.4 X 2.5 = $11 billion.
But we are paying $21 billion for the Downtown Line. It seemed that we are paying 2 times of what it should be, allowing for the points raised by the minister.
I fear that we are spending money on infrastructure quite recklessly. We are paying much more than we should be.
Tan Kin Lian
https://www.todayonline.com/singapore/comparing-singapores-newest-and-oldest-mrt-lines
Quote:
I asked the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to make a comparison between the two lines and highlight the differences. Thirty years separate these two lines and some of the differences are stark, to be expected.
First, the first phase of the North-South Line, cost us around $2.7 billion to build, or $4.4 billion in today's dollars. The Downtown Line cost us close to $21 billion.
The cost per kilometre has gone up from $160 million to $490 million. Each kilometre will therefore cost half a billion dollars - partly due to technology and partly due to inflation.
Second, the North-South Line is about 40 per cent underground while the Downtown Line is completely underground.
Third, the North-South Line has 26 stations, of which eight, or 30 per cent are interchange stations. The Downtown Line has 34 stations, of which 11, or 32 per cent are interchange stations.
Unquote:
Here is my analysis.
The number of stations increased by 30%. All the stations of the Downtown Line are underground.
Allowing for these two factors, I consider that the cost of the Downtown Line should be 2.5 times of the North South Line, i.e. $4.4 X 2.5 = $11 billion.
But we are paying $21 billion for the Downtown Line. It seemed that we are paying 2 times of what it should be, allowing for the points raised by the minister.
I fear that we are spending money on infrastructure quite recklessly. We are paying much more than we should be.
Tan Kin Lian
Every time Govt announce a very big ticket infrastructural project to be build, our heart sinks, OMG more taxes, price and costs hikes akan datang, makes our pocket become lighter, our belt tighter and our already small waist smaller still. Why should we be forced to pay for it?
ReplyDeleteHey, it's billions involved, it's after build, expensive maintenance expenses involved, why should we Pay and Pay, no ending one.
The hectic pace becomes quicker by the year, as if PAP has not much time left on this earth.
A bad omen for PAP?
Like what Mahathir said, we are getting tired liao. Tired of the Pay and Pay burden.