Rising costs push bill for final stage of Circle Line to $4.85b

Construction challenges, inflation and system upgrade lead to costs growing beyond initial projections, says LTA

The Land Transport Authority says the bill for the 4km Circle Line 6 (CCL6) also includes the cost of expanding the Kim Chuan Depot (above) and the building of a multi-storey bus depot. Construction of CCL6, which will have three stations in the Keppel area, has begun and it is slated to open in 2025. ST PHOTO: MARK CHEONG
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Weighing in, National University of Singapore transport researcher Lee Der-Horng said: "It is kind of obvious that CCL6 is necessary for the further development of the Greater Southern Waterfront."

He added that a complete circle is more beneficial to commuters, "just like the Yamanote Line... which connects the busiest and most important built-up areas in Tokyo".

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A version of this article appeared in the print edition of The Straits Times on April 11, 2019, with the headline Rising costs push bill for final stage of Circle Line to $4.85b. Subscribe