I find it puzzling that the two potential new MRT lines being discussed for Tengah and Seletar may be designed to connect with areas near the city centre.

Apart from the Cross Island Line, most existing routes already funnel commuters into the central area.

If these new lines follow the same pattern, we risk further over-serving the city core while outlying – and increasingly populated – regions remain underserved. A rethink is needed.

Not everyone works in the city centre. The perpetually congested Tampines Expressway and Loyang Avenue during morning peak hours attest to the large number of people who work in the north-eastern corner of the island.

It is also common for those living in one part of the north to have to first ride trains that head south towards the city, before connecting to another train that heads back up to another part of the north.

Someone living in Yishun can attest to the hassle of trying to get to Loyang, for instance.

This design is inefficient, adds unnecessary load to trains heading into the city and runs counter to our longstanding aim of decentralising economic activity _ including efforts to develop Tampines and Punggol as regional business hubs.

What Singapore needs is a line that connects the northern ends directly. That will make east-west travel across the north more efficient, and relieve pressure on city-bound lines.

Peh Chwee Hoe