Government mulling large-scale underground developments

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http://www.todayonline.com/singapore/govt-mulling-large-scale-underground-developments

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National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan said yesterday that a subterranean statutory land use plan could be on the cards. A draft will be put up for public consultation via an exhibition soon, Mr Khaw noted.

“In parallel, we are thinking about the possibility of developing an underground equivalent of the Master Plan to see how practical underground plans can complement the above ground Master Plan to make our city even more exciting and liveable,” he revealed.

Writing on his blog, he added: “We will not rush to do this underground Master Plan... But the earlier we begin this process, the faster we will learn and the easier it would be for us to realise these plans.”

Citing cities in the Scandinavian countries, Canada and Japan, Mr Khaw said there was a full range of possibilities such as underground transport hubs, pedestrian links, cycling lanes, utility plants, shopping areas and other public spaces.

Tokyo, for instance, has automated underground bicycle parking systems while in Oslo, Norway, an underground sports hall and swimming pool double as civil defence shelters during emergencies.

Mr Khaw noted that the Republic has “made good use” of underground spaces for shopping malls and underpasses, as well as 12km of expressways and almost 80km of MRT lines. It has also used subterranean spaces for storage: When it comes into operation next year, JTC’s Jurong Rock Caverns will be South-east Asia’s first underground storage facility for oil and petrochemical products.

The Singapore Armed Forces has also relocated its Seletar East Ammo Depot to an underground ammunition facility — a world’s first when it was unveiled in 2008 — built under a former quarry site in Mandai.