>PRIME Minister Lee Hsien Loong urged motorists and critics of the Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) policy to look at the 'overall picture' and understand why it is needed to keep Singapore roads free-flowing.
Addressing the public feedback on last month's increase in ERP rates and more ERP gantries that were put up at a time when people were burdened by rising living costs, PM Lee said motorists have not been worse off because of the ERP policy.
He said in his Mandarin National Day Rally speech that the ERP was a Cabinet decision and not one made by the Transport Ministry.
PM Lee said that since 2000, the Government has been making it easier for many more Singaporeans to own cars.
Vehicle-related taxes have been progressively reduced and more COEs have been released, he explained.
PM Lee said with more cars on the road, the ERP will need to be increased to keep traffic flowing.
But the government has taken steps to mitigate the impacts of the increases, through reduction of road tax and improvement of public transport, he added.
PM Lee said he would discuss at greater lengths the ERP issue in his English speech.
