Orchard carparks to switch to electronic payment

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http://motoring.asiaone.com/Motoring/News/Story/A1Story20120906-369910.html

Three carparks in the Orchard area - at Angullia Park, Somerset and Penang roads - will switch from parking coupons to the Electronic Parking System (EPS) for payment.

Four years ago, the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) had said that it made little sense to have an EPS system for open-air carparks that could be reclaimed for redevelopment any time, reported The Straits Times.

Now, the URA has decided to make the move as it determined that the three sites are not needed for redevelopment in the next few years.

The authority added that using the EPS removes the need to deploy staff to check coupons which is in line with the Government's effort to be more productive, reported the paper.

The change comes as part of upgrading works to raise Somerset Road carpark by a metre to prevent flooding. It will now have 115 vehicle spaces, which are up by six. Motorcycle spaces will also see an increase of 21 to 67 spaces.

Manufacturers told the English daily that the estimated cost of installing an EPS is $150,000 for a carpark with one entry and exit point.