World class transport system?

With Singapore inflation rate forecasted to be over 6% and projected annual wage increment be around 6% or below this year, most of us are going to have to tighten our belts in the coming days ahead. Just a simple lunch in the hawker center could easily cost 5 dollars or more. Taxi fare, bus and MRT fares have all increased multiple folds throughout the years. Most of us are feeling the pinch due to the inflation resulting in higher cost of living. Our desire and dreams to retire earlier in life seems to be harder and harder to realize. Despite the increase cost of living and inflation, it seems strange though public service transport sector in particular the SMRT bus and MRT are making profits.

The increased waiting time for bus arrival is getting more ridiculous than ever. Sometimes I wonder what the heck the transport ministry is doing. I don’t mind forging out more for the increase bus fare hikes if the increase cost translate to improve efficiency and safety, instead it seems that the number priority for these privatize transport companies are the shareholders interests. The service frequency for bus has deteriorated over the years, more and more passengers are pack dangerously into the bus well exceeding the maximum standing capacity. Waiting time for bus service can exceed well over 25 minutes, so it pays to bring books or any other things to pass time while waiting for the bus. Singapore boast and pride itself as having a world-class transport system, it is a shame though because I feel it should be world-class profit making transport system to be exact.