North-South Corridor delay: Affected business to continue getting HDB rental rebates if eligible

“Could the minister explain what considerations led LTA to wait until the overall delay can be quantified before informing stakeholders, rather than alerting them earlier that the existing timeline was at material risk?” he asked. 

LTA announced the delay “as soon as practicable”, as engineers first had to ascertain its impact, Mr Siow replied. 

The priority was initially to find solutions and recover time safely, but the risks eventually proved too great, resulting in the delay, he added. 

LTA will try to beef up communications on the ground and ensure that information provided is timely, accurate and relevant, he added. 

Mr Siow also said improved sensors would give authorities a better understanding of underground conditions over time, and hopefully ensure that such variances “do not surprise us as often in the future”.

MP Lee Hui Ying (PAP-Nee Soon) asked what indicators the transport ministry would use to assess the effectiveness of existing measures to minimise the impact on residents, particularly in terms of pedestrian safety and noise.

While there were objective indicators such as noise measurements, Mr Siow said “the most relevant indicator” was feedback from residents and businesses on the ground.

LTA will work closely with them and grassroots advisers to gather feedback and make adjustments based on the circumstances at each location, he said.