‘Vulnerable groups’ must be protected from fare increases: Transport Minister

Transport Minister Lui Tuck Yew hopes ‘vulnerable groups’ such as the elderly can be protected from increases in transport fares.

In a Facebook post on Wednesday evening, Lui called upon the Public Transport Council (PTC) to study if groups such as senior citizens could be insulated from paying higher fares in the upcoming fare review exercise.

“In the same regard, the Ministry of Transport will also study how we can similarly enhance the concession schemes Government introduced for lower-wage workers and persons with disabilities earlier this year,” he wrote.

Lui added that he had received positive feedback from Singaporeans who benefited from enhanced travel schemes after the 2013 fare review exercise.

“These include lower wage workers and persons with disabilities who enjoy lower fares, children below seven who now travel free and students… I hope the PTC can consider not raising the prices of these travel passes,” he wrote.

He also asked the Land Transport Authority (LTA) to “strengthen our ongoing travel demand management efforts” in order to encourage more commuters to travel during off-peak hours.

Public transport operators have until 19 December to submit applications for fare reviews. The PTC will announce its decision on fare prices in the first quarter of 2015.