is to provide seamless alternative modes of transport: RedasPaper-filing phase-out to begin for construction permit applications with LTA
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has announced plans to develop an AI chatbot that will assist developers and appointed contractors in adhering to regulatory requirements. This announcement was made by Minister of Transport Chee Hong Tat at the Real Estate Developers’ Association of Singapore (REDAS) mid-autumn lunch on Sept 17, where Chee was the guest of honour.
The move is part of the government’s ongoing review of existing regulations and procedures for road and building works approvals. The AI chatbot is designed to help developers and contractors verify the relevant LTA regulations for their development proposals, eliminating the need for them to manually search for information online. Chee stated that the chatbot will provide customized advice to industry professionals as they develop their proposals.
Currently in development, LTA will engage with the industry through the Transport Infrastructure Collaboration Panel (TICP) to further enhance the chatbot’s capabilities. The TICP, which was formed in 2021, aims to streamline processes, enhance industry capability, and create more pro-enterprise solutions. Its members include the Association of Consulting Engineers Singapore, The Institution of Engineers, Singapore, REDAS, the Singapore Institute of Architects, and LTA.
LTA is also addressing another industry challenge, the road layout submission process. Chee mentioned that LTA receives multiple road layout submissions that do not comply with guidelines, resulting in most applicants requiring three rounds of submissions to obtain approvals. To expedite this process, LTA will release a set of road design templates in November that will provide clear regulatory guidance upfront while still allowing developers to be creative in the design process.
The AI chatbot and road design templates build upon the TICP’s efforts to streamline road approvals. One of its initiatives is restructuring the process for private developers to hand over completed road infrastructure to LTA, resulting in a one-month handover timeframe after the defect liability period, down from eight months previously.
In another development, companies seeking to install solar panels near airports will no longer need approval from the Civil Aviation Authority of Singapore (CAAS) starting October 1. This is due to advancements in solar panel technology that have reduced glare, which was previously a concern for pilots and air traffic controllers.
REDAS president Tan Swee Yiow also called for more support for green financing at the event. He suggested measures such as tax reliefs, grants, incentives, and consumer buy-in to ease the financial strain of green development. Tan also urged regulators and financial institutions to expand sustainability frameworks to reward projects that go above and beyond in terms of sustainability, further promoting green projects.