'If you look at the experience in London, they had the same concern - the retail establishments. But after congestion charging was put in, their business over time actually improved.

'It became easier to get into London, to the restaurants there, to shops there. Similarly, the experience we had in Orchard Road was the same.'

MR RAYMOND LIM, on feedback that new ERP gantries in the city are driving away business.

'I think the critical decision for us is whether as a people we are willing to take sometimes difficult decisions, painful decisions, that we know will benefit Singaporeans as a whole. Or do we postpone difficult issues, difficult measures, do the popular thing and store up bigger trouble for ourselves in the future?

'We've never taken the populist road. We have said if this is the right thing to do and the situation calls for it, we would do it and in the case of congestion charging, I know it's difficult, it's an unpopular measure, motorists who are affected are unhappy, but it is something that is necessary, something that we will do to ensure that Singaporeans continue to enjoy living in a city in a garden, and not a city in a carpark.'

MR LIM, on the need to embrace ERP as a means to control congestion.