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‘It’s independence’: What transport means to those who ride, plan and power it

Singapore’s transport system has grown with the nation – shaped by those who keep it running, and those who rely on it every day

BY FENG ZENGKUN | PUBLISHED 24 JUN 2025

BRANDED CONTENT

‘It’s independence’: What transport means to those who ride, plan and power it

Singapore’s transport system has grown with the nation – shaped by those who keep it running, and those who rely on it every day

BY FENG ZENGKUN | PUBLISHED 24 JUN 2025

The first blast of cool air hit Madam Ng Lee Eng like a fresh cold towel. The experience was a far cry from the stuffy crowded buses she was used to.

The year was 1984. Then 25, she had stepped onto an air-conditioned bus for the first time. 

As the nation marks its 60th year of independence, here’s how Singapore’s land, sea and air networks have made strides and impacted lives.

In the North East Line’s Punggol Coast MRT station, 11 columns in the concourse branch out into ceiling beams that mimic the sprawling roots of mangrove trees – a nod to the area’s past as a fishing village. 

Above the station, which opened in December 2024, people gather in the sheltered plaza. Residents mingle, office workers take breaks, and cyclists use parking bays at the station’s entrances as part of their commutes.

Built alongside the Punggol Digital District, the station was the first to be conceptualised using design thinking, says Land Transport Authority (LTA) group director of policy and planning Priscilla Chan.

Ms Chan shares that the station reflects the agency’s growing focus on engaging communities and designing transport systems around people’s needs. “Apart from focusing on infrastructure, we’ve been thinking more about how transport systems can help communities and develop lively neighbourhoods,” she says. 

LTA builds and owns MRT infrastructure while operators SMRT and SBS Transit run train services.

Ms Chan, 47, has worked in the transport sector for nearly two decades – first at the Ministry of Transport, then LTA, contributing to land transport master plans and projects such as the DTL.

“Our work now places greater emphasis on consultation and engagement, partnering with residents and community to co-create solutions,” she adds.

This has guided the shift to integrated transport hubs that combine bus interchanges, MRT stations, shops, eateries and amenities, and Friendly Streets, an initiative launched in 2023 to make neighbourhood streets safer and better for pedestrians, including seniors. 

“We will identify some of the areas where there is high pedestrian footfall and are located close to key amenities, and suggest improvements that could be made to allow people to access these amenities more conveniently,” says Ms Chan.

LTA then consults the local community on whether these are areas where they would like to see more Friendly Street features, such as lower speed limits, barrier-free pedestrian crossings, cycling paths and wider and more accessible footpaths. 

Also close to her heart is the Caring SG Commuters Movement, which she spearheaded in 2017.

The movement encourages people to look out for those in need, through efforts like the “May I have a seat please” initiative. The initiative offers lanyards to commuters with invisible medical conditions, so fellow passengers know they may need a seat on public transport.

These lanyards are available at the Passenger Service Centres at MRT stations, bus interchanges or SimplyGo ticket offices.

In 2019, a teenager with invisible health problems wrote to her to thank her for the initiative. “She shared how people used to judge her for not giving up her seat to those who appeared to be more in need.”

A special lanyard and yellow card introduced by the initiative help to reduce the misunderstandings. “Hearing that made me feel quite heartened, as our efforts have gone some way in making a difference to their daily commute,” Ms Chan says.

At sea, Captain Charles Alexandar De Souza has witnessed – and contributed to – an equally remarkable transformation.

He began his maritime journey at 16, signing on as a crew member on a ship while waiting for his ‘O’-level results. He wanted to see the world.

While the voyages were exciting, Captain De Souza knew that he would return to work in Singapore one day. That opportunity came in 1996, when he joined PSA Marine and served for 10 years as a harbour pilot.

In 2006, he joined the Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore (MPA), eager to help improve the port with his pilotage knowledge and contribute to the MPA’s mission and vision. 

MPA develops the port while PSA Singapore and Jurong Port are its operators.

Today, Captain de Souza is the deputy port master and deputy director for the marine environment and safety department. The 60-year-old is a member of MPA’s Pilotage Committee, which oversees the licensing and examination of harbour pilots. He also contributes to other areas, such as in discussions and planning for port development. 

Transformation has touched every corner of the port of Singapore, he says, citing the example of how electrified, automated guided vehicles have replaced diesel-powered prime movers to transport containers within the Tuas Port.

Automation has played a large role in streamlining the port’s operations.

Mr Christopher Lim, 53, managing director of cargo and freight services firm DHL Global Forwarding Singapore and Malaysia, has witnessed this in his over 20 years at the firm. “Processes used to be heavily manual, with a huge reliance on paperwork and longer clearance times.

“Now, automated customs clearance, around-the-clock operations and other improvements have drastically reduced delays and errors,” he says. “Shipments that once took days to clear now take only hours.”

MPA also harnesses technology to efficiently manage Singapore’s waters, such as through the shore-side vessel tracking system. “In the early days, our Vessel Traffic Service could only monitor about 2,000 to 3,000 ships. Now, we can track up to 10,000 ships and broadcast information to them,” says Captain De Souza.

If an accident happens and a vessel sinks, MPA can also mark the site with a virtual aid to navigation (a digital marker shown on ships’ navigation systems), warning them to stay clear of the danger. 

“Gone are the days when we had to set up physical buoys and even spend time painting the right colour markings on them first if we didn’t have the appropriate buoy available.”

Last year’s launch of the Integrated Port Operations Command, Control and Communications (IPOC) system marked another leap forward. The system pulls data from multiple sources to provide a comprehensive real-time view of the port. 

“With IPOC, I know exactly where my assets are on the ground. I can forward-deploy my resources more effectively,” Captain De Souza explains. 

Singapore’s port operations will be consolidated in Tuas Port by the 2040s. With this shift, Captain De Souza sees more opportunities for innovation. He says: “I’m still learning something new every day. We have new technologies coming onstream; we’re continuing to move into a technology-driven future.”

At Changi Airport, the operations behind the scenes have advanced significantly in line with the steady growth in flight traffic over the years. When Mr Mar Nizam Muhamad, 50, joined as an air traffic controller (ATCO) in 2002, the team was still using paper strips to track planes’ positions. 

“There was a printer which printed out every aircraft’s flight plan. You put these flight strips into strip holders, and passed them manually to another controller when the aircraft moved into a position under their control,” he shares. 

“Sometimes we had issues because the printer had problems, or there were too many flights because of certain events, and you didn’t have enough space in the strip holders.”

In 2014, the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) upgraded to the Long Range Radar and Display System (LORADS) III, a digital system that tracks aircraft positions in real time with high precision. 

“Most of the junior ATCOs today won’t even know about the paper strips,” says Mr Nizam, laughing. He is now chief of Changi Tower West – the airport’s iconic control tower.

The digital system and other technologies have enhanced ATCOs’ situational awareness, and increased safety and efficiency. 

High-definition cameras provide coverage, giving ATCOs a comprehensive view of the airport, while an augmented reality system overlays essential flight data onto real-time images of the airfield, enabling quicker, more informed decisions. 

Training has also improved over the years, with on-the-job training leaders overseeing the development of trainee ATCOs. There was no such dedicated role in the past, as trainees shadowed different ATCOs, says Mr Nizam. 

His subsequent career as a merchandising executive, eventually rising to procurement director, took him all over the world and through Changi Airport multiple times each year. He retired in 2023.

Mr Tang still travels often, and takes the time to walk around in Jewel Changi, his favourite part of the airport. “After so many years, Changi Airport is still magnificent,” he says. 

With Changi Airport’s Terminal 5 slated to open in the mid-2030s, Mr Nizam expects new challenges and opportunities for the airport. 

Still, he is confident that Changi Airport will continue to be at the cutting edge of innovation, efficiency and safety. “When I look at the teamwork and dedication of the pilots, ATCOs, ground staff and other employees to ensure that passengers leave and come home safely and on time, I know we will rise to the occasion.”

In the sky, at sea, and on land, Singapore’s transport networks have kept pace with change. For Madam Ng, the progress represents more than just ease. “My mother’s generation relied on the rickshaw,” she says. “The bus is my generation’s mode of transport, and now you have the MRT too.

“With the good and extensive public transport in Singapore, you don’t have to rely on other people to take you places. 

“It’s more than just transport – it’s freedom and independence.”