As Singapore infrastructure goes underground

IT is estimated that by 2050, 70 per cent of the world's population will live in urban spaces, creating more megacities with limited space, facilities, and supporting infrastructure. Underground spaces are becoming an increasingly viable solution to this urban challenge.

Utilising underground spaces is not something new - for years, these spaces have been used to house industry, utility and transport infrastructure in the heart of urban areas, especially in addressing space issues in an existing city landscape.

Earlier this year, the URA revealed underground plans for Marina Bay, Jurong Innovation District and Punggol digital district, as part of its Draft Master Plan. The URA's Draft Master Plan 2019 details how Singapore will eventually need to expand underground to meet future demand for space. The city state plans to use its underground space for infrastructure such as rail lines, utilities, warehousing and storage facilities and even reservoirs. The plan, when implemented, will make Singapore one of the world's most densely built up cities both above and below ground.