Singapore to freeze number of cars on its roads

The country’s transport regulator cites land constraints for its ban on new cars

12 per cent of Singapore’s total land area is taken up by roads (REUTERS)

Singapore is set to freeze the number of cars on its roads from next February.

The country’s transport regulator cited land scarcity and growing investment in public transport as the main reasons for its decision.

“Today, 12 per cent of Singapore’s total land area is taken up by roads”, it said. “In view of land constraints and competing needs, there is limited scope for further expansion of the road network”.

The Land Transport Authority said that it currently limits the vehicle growth rate to 0.25 per cent per year, but that it will cut this to zero for most vehicles from February next year and that it would review the rate again in 2020.

The existing vehicle growth rate of 0.25 per cent per year for good vehicles and buses will remain unchanged until at least the first quarter of 2021.

The regulator also said that the Government plans to invest S$28bn (£15.9bn) on improving trains and buses over the next five years.

Car owners in the densely populated country are required to buy a limited supply of permits, auctioned by the Government every month.

Permits for small vehicles cost S$41,617 as recently as last week, according to Bloomberg.