WHEN an Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) cordon went up around the Orchard Road area in 2005, there were concerns not just from motorists but from retailers as well.

These businesses were worried that the move would drive customers away.

The Government's counter: The measures were necessary to keep up the buzz of the area as traffic had slowed down to 15kmh on Orchard Road.

Not everyone was convinced, but the gantries went up and ERP hours were extended to Saturdays and for an hour more on weekdays.

The aim: To discourage motorists from using the shopping belt as a way of getting to other destinations, such as Marina Bay and Suntec City.

Three years on, a study has shown that vehicles have indeed been able to move along faster. Traffic speeds went up to 25kmh and have since stabilised at an average of 23kmh; the volume of traffic has shrunk by 20 per cent.

And the retailers have stopped complaining - shoppers are still making their way to the strip.

Orchard Road Business Association spokesman Stephen Goh noted that the cordon had noticeably reduced the amount of pass-through traffic on weekday afternoons.

'The overall effect is something positive because what we are left with are the 'real shoppers', not people just using the road to get elsewhere.'

Read the full story in Monday's edition of The Straits Times.