SDA’s Lim welcomes plans for new Cross Island Line

SINGAPORE: Singapore Democratic Alliance candidate Desmond Lim has welcomed plans to build the Cross Island Line (CRL), which will run through Punggol.

Mr Lim said the line, which is expected to be ready by 2030, is necessary due to the increase in population, as well as the development of Singapore’s northeast region.

However, he questioned the length of time needed to build the line. He asked why it will take so long to complete.

He said: "Could it be because of the budget? Could it be because of planning or could it be because of time taken to do land acquisition?

"I think they should be more transparent... Will this affect residents? I think residents themselves know who to vote (for), so I don’t see any impact."

Mr Lim made the statements during a walkabout in Punggol East on Friday.

He and his team of about 10 supporters started the morning at Bakau LRT Station to catch commuters, and then moved on to Rivervale Plaza to meet shoppers and retailers.

One shopper told Channel NewsAsia that she spoke to Mr Lim and suggested that a wet market be built in the vicinity, as Sengkang is a big area and she has to walk a distance to get to a wet market.

Mr Lim and his team of supporters will be visiting Kangkar LRT Station, and making door—to—door visits late into the night.

—CNA/ac/al