Studies and Debates 1967-1982
State and City Planning Study
To cope up with Singapore's rapid social and economic growth in the early 1960s, a comprehensive land use and transport plan was needed. Therefore, the government sought the help of the United Nations (UN) to devise a long-term framework for urban development in Singapore. UN representatives visited Singapore in 1962 and 1963 and gave their recommendations to the Planning Department of Singapore. This formulated the launch of the State and City Planning Project in 1967, assessing land use and transportation needs.
The findings of the 4 year study, conducted by the United Nations Development Programme and the Singapore State and City Planning Department, outlined Singapore's first concept plan - a long-term plan to guide the country's physical development for the next 20 years - and forecasted a need for a rail system by 1992.
Mass Transit Study
In 1972, a team of consultants and professional officers seconded from the government conducted the Singapore Mass Transit Study, which carried out in 3 phases from 1972 and 1980.
Under Phase I of the study, the cost and benefits of five alternate mass transit concepts, including an all-bus system, was analysed and the team recommended a rail mass transit as the best option for meeting the anticipated travel demands of Singapore.
Phase II of the study was conducted in 1975 to examine the technical, economic and financial feasibility of the mass transit system. Through the findings of the study, a proposed rail system operating through most densely populated areas was economically and technically feasible. A basic route recommended with two separate lines, one running east-west and the other line running north-south. Despite the recommendation for the development of an MRT system, the possible impact on patterns of land use and economic activities as well as the high costs involved prevented the government from making an immediate decision. It was also complicated by a review of the phase two study by a team from the World Bank, in which issues where brought up with the costing and assessment of the relative benefits of the bus-rail plan compared to an all-bus system.
Phase III of the study, conducted between 1979 and 1980, provided a preliminary engineering design for the recommended MRT system. In this study, the station locations were identified, budget estimates were made and the construction and operational details were established.
Rail vs Bus
The government was hesitant to commit to an MRT system despite the findings of the Mass Transit Studies. Then Minister for Communications, Mr Ong Teng Cheong, favoured a mass rail transit system ever since he was a part of the planning team that proposed it in 1967. Dr Goh Keng Swee, then Finance Minister, opposed an MRT system because of its high cost and preferred a much cheaper all-bus system.
Thereby, a team of foreign consultants led by project director Kenneth Hansen with Professor John Meyer, both from Harvard University, was engaged to review the mass transit and other transportation studies that had been conducted.
In the report, they argued that the earlier studies were based on an incorrect assumption and therefore failed to consider other means to solve Singapore's transport problems. Instead of an MRT system, the team recommended a high performance all-bus system coupled with feeder routes and motorcar restraint. Even if an MRT system is developed, the team suggested that only one line will be built as they believed that it would be sufficient to relieve traffic congestion and allow the bus system to function.
An SBS double decker bus in 1988 (Photo: citytransport.info)
Comprehensive Traffic Study
In 1980, a provisional Mass Rapid Transit Authority was appointed to conduct preparatory work for the construction of a possible MRT system.
A Comprehensive Traffic Study was then conducted in 1981 by the provisional Mass Rapid Transit Authority, and it confirmed that a rail system was crucial to the Republic's anticipated transportation needs. It concluded that an all-bus system would impose severe restrictions on other road users while not providing a comparable service.
MRT System Designs Option Study
An MRT System Designs Option Study was also conducted to refine the technical details and the recommended measures for the MRT system, such as having Platform Screen Doors at underground stations and utilising the third rail for power transmission.
Platform screen doors at Orchard MRT station (Photo: citytransport.info)
North-South Line MRT tracks (Photo: SGTrains)
Green Light
In May 1982, the government gave the go-ahead to build and completely finance the proposed $5 billion MRT system with the completion deadline set for 1992.
"The Government has now taken a firm decision to build the MRT. The MRT is much more than a transport investment, and must be viewed in its wider economic perspective. The boost it'll provide to long term investors' confidence, the multiplier effect and how MRT will lead to the enhancement of the intrinsic value of Singapore's real estate are spin-offs that cannot be ignored."
Proposed Initial System
The proposed initial system was announced during the announcement for the go-ahead to build the MRT system in May 1982. The system consists of 42 stations along two lines - running north to south and east to west - to cover all four corners of the island. The finalised station locations that were built were largely similar to the proposed station locations.
Station names indicated in the diagram were unconfirmed station names and were only indicative of the area the station will be situated at.
