While carpark charges at HDB estates will increase, with those owning two or more cars paying higher differential rates from Dec 1, those living in private residential estates continue to enjoy year-round free parking regardless of the number of cars they park on public roads outside their homes ("Public parking gets costlier"; last Friday).

Free parking in and around private estates is subsidised by non-motorists, who also pay for the repair and maintenance of the roads, as well as the daily cleaning of the parking spaces on public roads.

One of the main reasons the Government wants to raise carpark charges is presumably to make Singapore car-lite ("Govt taking clear stand on curbing car ownership: Experts"; last Friday).

In contrast, households in private residential estates are car-heavy as the ample free parking space on public roads around their estates allow for multiple-car ownership. This runs counter to the Government's intentions.

To ensure the equitable sharing of costs and a balanced implementation of the car-lite strategy, the authorities should commence charging for parking spaces at all private residential estates at rates higher than or in line with the increased rates at HDB estates.

Aaron Ang Chin Guan