SINGAPORE - Singapore will spend 20 billion Singapore dollars (US$14 billion; S$9.5 billion) to double its railway network by 2020, the city-state's transport minister said Friday.
The new lines will also triple the network's load from 1.4 million journeys a day to 4.6 million, said Minister for Transport Raymond Lim said.
"The government has decided that all these rail projects are a necessary investment to ensure that our transport infrastructure meets the needs of a growing population and an expanding economy," Lim said.
Together with rail lines currently under construction, the new ones will double the network length from 138 kilometers (85 miles) to 278 kilometers (172 miles), he said.
A new line will be built to connect Woodlands in the north to downtown Marina Bay, where one of Singapore's two casinos is being built, while another line will be built to connect Marina Bay to the eastern parts of the island, along the coast.
The existing rail lines that run north to south and east to west will also be extended, he said.
"By 2020, people who live or work in the city and those who shop and find enjoyment there will be able to reach an MRT station within 400 meters (437 yards) on average, a mere five-minute walk," Lim said.
The Southeast Asian city-state projects its population will increase by more than 40 percent to 6.5 million over the next 40-50 years, based on current demographic trends. Leaders have urged land planners to explore new ways of creating space to accommodate the potential increase
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