The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has called for tenders to build covered walkways that will link to 59 MRT stations.

The tenders are the first of four tenders to be called under the Government's plan to expand the coverage of sheltered link ways island-wide.

In a statement on Thursday, LTA said the latest tenders will cover MRT stations in the north-eastern and north-western parts of the island.

The remaining two tenders, which will be called in the fourth quarter of this year, will cover the remaining MRT and LRT stations.

In all, the LTA plans to add 200km of linkways to the 46km already in place over six phases. The aim is to give everyone walking within 400m of a station shelter from the rain and sun. There will also be covered links within 200m of LRT stations, bus interchanges and major bus stops.

As part of the preparation to expand the covered walkway network, LTA has been conducting site surveys since January this year.

Construction will take place in phases over a period of 5 years, with programme completion targeted by 2018.