Higher rates for peak hours at 22 popular HDB carparks

Drivers popping into the city area or a crowded hawker centre in the heartland have another reason to make it quick. Parking at 22 popular HDB-managed carparks across the island has become more expensive during peak hours, with the Housing & Development Board (HDB) hoping it will deter drivers from lingering.

This hike is on top of a nationwide increase in rates at public carparks that began on 1^st December. Overall rates increased by 10 cents to 20 cents per half hour, depending on location.

But the rise is more drastic at the 22 carparks, generally sited in the city area and near certain food centres. For instance, rates at six HDB carparks in Rochor and Duxton shot up from $1 to $1.40 per half hour. The other 16 carparks also saw a hike from 50 cents per half hour to 80 cents now.

The higher HDB carpark rates are now similar to those charged by commercial carparks in the vicinity. For instance, parking at Bras Basah Complex is more expensive than at the nearby Odeon Towers, which charges $2.20 for the first hour and $1.10 for subsequent half-hour periods.

Previously, HDB did not charge extra for parking during peak periods. It first started to do so in 2009 at The Pinnacle@Duxton and Tekka Market to 'manage the high demand for short term parking space during peak hours and encourage higher turnover of vehicles'.

HDB and the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) manage about 607,000 and 24,000 parking spaces, respectively. Asked if it will impose similar peak-period hikes, a spokesman for the URA said, "Many of URA's carparks are located in the city centre, and it has been our practice to set our charges appropriately to manage parking demand in the city. This includes charging more if necessary during peak hours."