Opening Remarks by Mr Chee Hong Tat, Acting Minister for Transport, at the Cross Island Line – Punggol Extension Groundbreaking Ceremony

SM Teo Chee Hean and fellow Grassroots Advisers,
Friends and colleagues,
Ladies and gentlemen,

1.     Good morning and thank you for joining us at the site of our future Riviera MRT station.  In January this year, we broke ground on the first phases of the Jurong Region Line and Cross Island Line, or CRL.  Today, we officially mark the start of construction for the CRL – Punggol Extension, also known as the CPe.

Enhancing connectivity for convenience and resilience

2.    The CPe comprises four stations – Punggol, Riviera, Elias and Pasir Ris.  With three out of these four stations being interchanges, CPe will become a link between the North East Line, East-West Line and the CRL main line, creating new travel options for our residents in the northeastern and eastern regions of Singapore.  Residents in the east of Punggol will also have another option to transfer from the LRT to the MRT system at Riviera.

3.     When the CPe opens in 2032, it will shorten travel times for more than 70,000 daily journeys between the northeast and east.  Residents can travel between the towns of Punggol and Pasir Ris in just 15 minutes, compared to a 40-minute bus ride today.

4.     Over 40,000 households in Pasir Ris and Punggol will benefit from the CPe, including the residential projects slated for completion in the coming years.  The CPe will become a convenient way for residents and visitors to enjoy the amenities across this entire region, including cherished green spaces like Pasir Ris Park and Coney Island.

5.     The CPe will also link our residents to existing industrial estates such as those in Pasir Ris and Tampines, and Loyang.  In addition, the CPe will also support new growth areas such as the Punggol Digital District and Changi Aviation Park – supporting even more job opportunities and adding to the vibrancy in this part of Singapore.

6.     Sustainable features of CPe stations will make the MRT an even more environmentally friendly mode of travel.  Where possible, station structures will be constructed with low-carbon concrete.  Solar panels will be deployed on station entrances, and CPe stations will use hybrid cooling systems that require less energy to keep our stations at a comfortable temperature. 

Innovating for safety, efficiency and sustainability

7.    Like with every new MRT line, I am sure residents are looking forward to the possibilities that the CPe and CRL will bring.  During the construction, there will be some inconvenience and disamenities.  We will do our best to minimise the impact.  I thank residents for your patience and understanding. 

8.     Preventive and mitigation measures will be put in place to minimise noise, vibration and dust.  These include using new equipment like electric excavators and battery power pack generators, which emit less

9.     To complete our works more efficiently, we will make use of technology and innovative approaches.  For example, to construct a 60-metre mined section of the tunnel near Elias station, we will be using a robotic shotcrete machine to apply sprayed concrete to create the tunnel lining, which improves overall safety and productivity.  

Conclusion

10.    Today’s groundbreaking is another big step in our journey to bring the MRT network closer to where Singaporeans live, work and play. 

11.    Our investments to grow our rail network is a collaborative effort involving many stakeholders.

12.    I would like to thank our Grassroots Advisers, community volunteers and residents for your support and partnership on this journey.

13.    To the engineers, contractors and LTA teams involved in this project – I would like to say a big thank you to all of you, and congratulations on this milestone!  As our rail network grows, so does the complexity.  I encourage you to press on with your efforts, to overcome the challenges of this and other projects, as we further enhance our public transport connectivity for Singaporeans and keep Singapore moving.

14.    Thank you.