In late 2024, more than a decade after the initial announcement in 2013, the construction of Singapore’s Cross Island Line commenced. It’s the newest addition to the country’s sprawling public transportation system, and set to be its longest underground train line, spanning from the west coast to the more isolated parts of the east and north-east of Singapore. According to the LTA, the line will serve more than 100,000 households, and will increase the accessibility of recreational spaces like Bishan-Ang Mo Kio Park and Changi Beach Park while saving commuters over an hour of travel time.
While the line certainly brings many benefits to commuters, it garnered large amounts of controversy when it was first announced. Reason being: the line was set to cut through the Central Catchment Nature Reserve, posing a large threat to these ecologically- sensitive areas. Its construction would cause irreparable damage to these important habitats that housed critically endangered animals, such as the Straw-headed Bulbul, of which there are less than 2,000 remaining in the wild. Grassroots organisations, such as Love Our MacRitchie Forest, lobbied to convince the LTA to re-route these sections of the line for years prior to construction, sending out a desperate plea to save what they could of Singapore’s dwindling green spaces. Thankfully, their cries did not fall on deaf ears- the LTA agreed to alter their plans in favour of smaller worksites and less invasive routes, and conducted numerous in-depth studies to better understand how to alleviate the environmental impact the CIL would have. The changes made were “unprecedented”, and demonstrated a willingness to listen and compromise for the sake of the environment on the government’s part.
However, despite the best efforts of nature lovers, they were unable to eliminate the damage caused entirely- habitats like the marshlands in Holland Plain and the forests in Windsor will still be wiped out completely, jeopardizing their respective wildlife populations. With more than 98% of Singapore’s forests cleared for new projects, and 37% of the country’s flora and fauna lost as of 2024, is the loss of even more natural habitats a sacrifice that Singapore is willing to take?
As University of Sydney’s Jamie Wang so aptly puts it in his paper titled “Re-Imagining Urban Movement in Singapore”, “the complexities (of the Cross-Island Line) were reduced to a simple set of yes or no questions centered on the trade-offs in terms of personal convenience and amenities” (9). In the quest to simplify life for Singaporeans and cater to the demands of the growing population, the government is in a constant balancing act between its responsibilities to nature, and its responsibility to its citizens. And unfortunately, it seems that nature has lost this time round, with wildlife left scrambling as their homes are destroyed.
Although it is crucial that Singapore works to accommodate the ever-growing population, now more than ever, we must consider whether the additional convenience is worth the destruction of our forests and the endangerment of animals.
If we continue down this route, the 2% of forests that still remain will be overtaken by our man-made marvels that we deem necessary for convenience. Singapore’s average temperatures will continue to soar from the increased carbon dioxide in the atmosphere, making day trips to the now easily accessible East Coast Park a thing of the past. Biodiversity numbers will plummet, resulting in the extinction of vast numbers of species, and disrupting food chains and agriculture streams all over the planet. Yes, accessibility is important, but maybe the charm of spaces like Bishan Park is that they are away from the hustle and bustle of city life. Maybe the extra travel time will be worthwhile if we can still enjoy tolerable temperatures, and hear the birds chirping in the trees.
It’s time we decide whether serving ourselves or serving the planet is more important.
Posted 25/06/2025
