GOVT QUIETLY RAISED PEAK HOUR HDB PARKING BY 33%, 3 WP-MANAGED CARPARKS AFFECTED

<Credits: The Alternative View>

HDB and URA have quietly raised the peak hour charges for carparks managed by both agencies. In total, so far, six neighbourhoods are affected by this hike which sees parking rates increasing by up to 33%.

These Neighbourhoods are:

1. Bendemeer Food Centre
2. Golden Shoe Food Centre
3. Lorong Hainanese Village Centre
4. Kovan Neighbourhood Centre
5. Serangoon Neighbourhood Centre
6. Hougang Town Centre

The revised rate during peak hours for these carparks is now 80 cents for every half hour. Both Kovan and Hougang Neighbourhood Centres are the hardest hit with the peak hour hike covering also weekends as follows:

Hougang:
Monday to Friday, 10am - 10.30 pm
Weekends and Public Holidays, 7am - 0:30pm

Kovan:
Monday to Sunday including Public Holidays: 7 am to 0:30pm.

According to both statutory boards, the rationale of the hike is to increase turnovers of vehicles at these carparks during peak periods.

Curiously, however, Lee Hsien Loong's AMK GRC, Goh Chok Tong's Marina Parade and the very crowded Tampines Town Centre have been spared the hike, despite the fact that the carparks there are among the busiest. In contrast, of the six affected neighbourhoods, three fall under areas managed by the Worker's Party.