Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) released its draft master plan on Mar. 29. The plan shows the land use for the next 10 to 15 years. From the plan, one can observe the expansion of two major fighter bases on the eastern and western parts of the island.
It has been announced back in 2013 that Paya Lebar Air Base will make way for a new town, freeing up 800 hectares of land. The base is home to the F-15SG fleet and the C-130s. Speaking at the National Day Rally, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said the Changi East air base will take over Paya Lebar’s role. A fourth runway will be built at Changi East. Defence Minister Ng Eng Hen said in Parliament in 2013 that Tengah air base will be expanded to house units that are currently assigned to Paya Lebar.
On Jul. 18, 2017, the Singapore government announced plans to exhume 80,500 graves west of Tengah air base and relocate six farms there as well. Lim Chu Kang Road, which has been used as an emergency road runway, will be realigned too.
The scale of those expansion can now be seen in the draft master plan. However, as “reproduction, adaption, distribution, translation or inclusion in any publication of the contents herein (the draft master plan) whether partially or wholly and in any form or media whatsoever is strictly prohibited unless with the prior written approval of the Chief Planner, Urban Redevelopment Authority,” we are not able to reproduce them here. However, you can view the plan in the URL provided below.
From the master plan, the outline of a runway can be seen clearly at Tengah. The length of the expansion, between the two placement markers on the Google Earth image, shows a new runway that could be as long as 4km or 13,123 ft will be built over the expanded area. It will be built over Lim Chu Kang road. How it affects the UAV operations at Murai Camp is unclear at the moment.
Heading east to Changi airbase. The draft plan shows an expansion of Changi East airbase to the north and south. The area west of Changi naval base will be reclaimed and one stretch of Tanah Merah Coast road will be realigned to over the reclaimed area to accommodate the expansion.
For more information, hit the Source below
Paya Lebar Air Base to move to Changi
Tengah Air Base to be expanded; more than 80,000 graves exhumed, 4 farms to be acquired
Reply to Media Queries on Expansion of Tengah Air Base and Relocation of Paya Lebar Air Base