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Chongqing - “Being people-oriented is a core principle in Singapore’s public transport development,” said Mr. Chee Hong Tat, Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Finance of Singapore, during a fireside chat at the 15th Chinese Journalists Visit Programme (CJVP) on July 28.
Chee elaborated, “While technology and infrastructure play crucial roles in the transportation sector, decision-making and design processes must always prioritize the needs of passengers and users.”
▲Mr. Chee Hong Tat, Acting Minister for Transport and Senior Minister of State, Ministry of Finance of Singapore. (Graphics/Chen Yingzhu)
The principle of being people-oriented also entails cultivating skilled professionals in related domains to ensure the efficiency of transport system operations and top-tier service quality.
For instance, Singapore's Punggol Coast Mass Rapid Transit (MRT) station on the North East Line is slated to open next year. To accommodate an expected rise in passenger volume, six new trains, which were procured by the Land Transport Authority (LTA) for the North East Line, started operations on July 28th.
"In this project, LTA collaborated closely with SBS Transit, suppliers, and workers to ensure the seamless operation of the new trains," Chee said.
These new trains feature a condition monitoring system that gathers data from onboard equipment to preemptively identify potential equipment malfunctions. Moreover, two of these trains are equipped with an automatic track inspection system, constantly monitoring track conditions, which in turn facilitates efficient track maintenance.
"These technological applications help to enhance the safety and convenience of public transport commuters," said Chee, "but the most important aspect would still be the training of all relevant personnel, including workers, to ensure they are proficient in operating these advanced technological facilities."
“The second core principle is the need for forward-thinking planning, with a concept akin to planting trees for future generations to enjoy the shade,” said Chee. He noted that transportation development is a long-term process, where investment plans and planning should be future-oriented.
Singapore is in the midst of constructing Tuas Port, slated to be the world’s largest fully automated port when completed. Expected to be fully completed around two decades from now, the goal is to consolidate all container port operations in one location, where Tuas Port can handle a container throughput of up to 65 million TEUs, almost double today’s volumes.
"While this requires significant funding and time, it is only through long-term planning that we can ensure efficient future transportation, increased competitiveness, and flexibility," Chee said.
Drawing on Singapore's advanced technology and management experience in transport and logistics from Tuas Port, the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Multimodal Distribution and Connectivity Centre, located in Guoyuan Port, Chongqing, targets to build a professional, intelligent, green, and international multi-modal transport hub and logistics trading center.
As a significant achievement of the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity (CCI) and the CCI-New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor (ILSTC), the Centre will be developed over two phases. The first phase comprising a 40,000 square metres' distribution centre and 50,000 square metres' container yard commenced operations in June 2022, and the second phase is tentatively expected to be ready in 2024.
With the maturing CCI-ILSTC, the collaboration between Singapore and Chongqing fosters greater connectivity between China's Western region and Southeast Asian countries, paving the way for mutual growth and revitalizing economic progress.
This successful partnership between Singapore and Chongqing underscores the potential for further cooperation. “We can jointly explore future collaborative projects, share experiences, and resources, and promote mutual development,” Chee added.
