Several MPs raise suggestions to address transport woes

As the second day of Budget Debates got underway, 

Several MPs rose to support the proposal to grant free public transport for those travelling before peak hour. 

MP for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC Dr Janil Puthuchery mooted this idea in parliament yesterday, to help ease congestion during peak period. 

Supporters included Tampines MP, Irene Ng who also suggested flexi-work arrangements to assuage the problem of traffic congestion.

MP for Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Liang Eng Hwa also joined the call and made one of his own. 

Mr Liang said the government should freeze any public transport fare increase until Singaporeans see significant improvements in service level and enhancements. 

He said operating costs may well have gone up for the Public Transport Operators but that was justifying it from the company perspective. 

Mr Liang recounted that it was a trying experience working with the operators on the ground. 

He said each request submitted to improve bus services would often end up into long drawn out discussions. 

And often the final answer from the Public Transport Operator was that they had no drivers to increase more bus services. 

So Mr Liang hoped that the Transport Ministry would move away from the 2 Public Transport Operators model and use more of the private operators to help expand the bus capacity. 

Mr Liang said that if the 2 public transport operators are incapable of increasing the bus capacity fast enough, the government should not waste time with them and quickly look to other private operators to do the job.