MORE than $22 billion of investments have been pumped into transforming Marina Bay and the vision of a prime waterfront location for living, working and playing is steadily taking shape.
The transformation of the Marina Bay area is progressing on schedule. --PHOTO: ZAOBAO'In one or two years' time, this bay will be alive with people, with activities, festivities and it's a testimony to the foresight of the people who started developing this area many, many years ago,' said National Development Minister Mah Bow Tan after touring key sites on Tuesday.
The immediate vicinity of Marina Bay will be ready 'for people to enjoy in a couple of years' time', he added.
The development of the entire Marina Bay area - Singapore's most ambitious urban transformation project - is expected to be completed in 10 to 15 years.
Yet the groundwork for the expansion of the existing Central Business District started back in the late 1960s. The new downtown comprises 360ha, which was reclaimed in phases from 1969 to 1992.
Plans started in earnest about 10 years ago when the area was first developed. The first site was put up for sale in 2004.
The transformation of Marina Bay into Singapore's new downtown is part of a bigger plan to remake the city and turn it into an exciting, liveable global city.
Mr Mah reiterated that the plans are going ahead in spite of the economic crisis. 'As a Government, we must be able to look farther ahead and we must be willing to invest,' he said.
Read the full report in Wednesday's edition of The Straits Times.
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