Written Reply to Parliamentary Question on Erection of Noise Barrier from Bukit Batok MRT Station to Tunnel in Direction of Bukit Gombak

Mr Murali Pillai asked the Minister for Transport whether LTA will consider erecting a railway noise barrier from Bukit Batok MRT station to the tunnel in the direction of Bukit Gombak MRT station to deal with the increased noise level from the MRT track owing to an "echo effect" arising after the erection of noise barriers from the other end of Bukit Batok MRT station to Bukit Batok Street 22 in the direction of Jurong East MRT station.

Reply by Minister for Transport S Iswaran:

1.     Noise barriers along rail viaducts consist of panels which absorb noise generated from the train movement and should not cause an echo effect in any direction.

2.     Regarding the rail viaduct segment between Bukit Batok Station and the tunnel highlighted by Mr Murali, LTA and SMRT conducted on-site investigation and discovered a track defect that was causing abnormal noise when trains pass through. Track rectification works were carried out on 23 August 2022. Since then, the measured noise level has reduced and is below NEA's current noise criterion of 67 decibels averaged over an hour. LTA and SMRT will monitor the noise level around the area regularly and rectify any track defects promptly.