Transport fare review deferred

Bus and train fares will remain unchanged until the end of this year, after the Public Transport Council (PTC) announced yesterday that it will defer its annual fare review to the fourth quarter. While PTC Chairman Gerard Ee said that the deferment was to coincide with the opening of Stages 4 and 5 of the Circle Line, political observers feel that there is a different rationale for it. Singapore Management University law lecturer Eugene Tan noted that the deferment avoided putting another potential issue on the table for the coming General Elections. He said: We are assuming that price adjustments would lead to an increase, which is likely to be the case if you look at oil prices, wages and everything. It defers this issue being added onto the list of concerns about cost of living.