‘Location, location and location’

‘Location, location and location’ determines largely a property’s value. Being accessible equates to convenience, resulting in precious time saved from mind-numbing rides in cramped buses on clogged roads and expressways.

With property prices going skywards, the average Singaporean is being priced out of central locations, having to move farther and farther away.

As the population increases and road congestion sets in, it becomes clear that improving public transport is the only viable option to at least maintain the quality of life of the working and middle class who rely solely on such means of travel.

The benefits are manifold. Property prices in outlying areas will be given a shot in the arm, providing capital gains to owners.

Traffic will ease as more people opt to take public transport.

Pollution will be reduced.

Newly connected areas could potentially experience ‘jump-started’ development.

More time can spent with friends and family.

Precious meals eaten at home and moments spent with children in the morning and evening would tip the work-life balance favourably.

With regard to costs, surely expanding the road network and expanding the MRT system with the Downtown extension, Bukit Timah line, Eastern and Jurong region lines now would be cheaper than embarking on such major projects later on.

Given the length of time involved from planning to completion, a sooner-rather-than-later approach to this issue should be adopted as hundreds of thousands of Singaporeans will be affected by them. The timeframe of having the Bukit Timah line completed by 2015 is simply too prolonged.

City planners should not neglect outlying areas and the heartlands. There is more to Singapore than the integrated resorts and the boom in the luxury-property sector.

Surely no efforts should be spared in bringing the birth-rate up?

Varughese E. K. Mathew

Source: The Straits Times, 20 June 2007