Charlene Fang
CNN Go
As if driving in Singapore isn’t expensive enough, come November drivers will have to cough up extra at more than 20 ERP points across the island
Driving is already a privilege in Singapore.
And come next month it will become more expensive on a daily basis when the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) rates go up by S$1 per car at 23 gantries across the island.
The 23 toll points account for one-third of the total network. This price hike is the latest and one of the most extensive since the ERP was introduced in 1998.
ERP rate adjustments are not new to Singapore. Rates are usually adjusted on a quarterly basis and based on road usage.
The new hike will affect motorists entering the Central Business District (CBD) at any of the 11 gantries dotting the Bugis-Marina Centre area between 6:30 and 7 p.m. from Monday to Friday. Starting in November, the S$2 fee will increase to S$3.
The Orchard Road area will also be affected. Drivers will have to pay S$2 on weekdays from 6:30 to 7 p.m. and Saturdays from 6:30 to 8 p.m.
Another affected area will be the Woodsville Flyover leading to the Pan-Island Expressway. It will no longer be free of charge — on weekdays from 7:30 to 8 a.m. drivers will have S$1 deducted from their cashcard.
Perhaps the worst hit are the residents who pass the Fort Road and the Kallang-Paya Lebar gantries into the CBD, a rate of S$4 will be charged during the weekdays from 8:30 to 9 a.m.
The price hikes are not going down well with drivers. After all, S$1 can buy you a cup of kopi, a plain roti prata or entry into a public swimming pool.
Over the course of a year (taking out weekends) that’s S$260, which if timed right can buy you a return ticket to Phuket, Bali or Bangkok on a low-cost carrier.
A question to all drivers in Singapore: how would you rather spend that S$1?
http://www.cnngo.com/singapore/life/singapore-drivers-pay-s1-more-25-erp-gantries-080601