Common Services Tunnel Act

1.   The Common Services Tunnel Act 2018 (“CST Act”) for Marina Bay Common Services Tunnel Area (“Marina Bay CST Area”) (Appendix 1) came into operation on 7 Jan 2021.

2.   The aims of the CST Act include:

1. Regulating engineering works carried out within the CST protection zone designated within the Marina Bay CST Area to ensure the safe and efficient operation and functioning of the CST and CST ancillary facilities within the Marina Bay CST Area;
2. Regulating the laying of utility services infrastructure within the Marina Bay CST Area;
3. Ensuring that an owner or occupier of land within the Marina Bay CST Area takes reasonable measures to keep and maintain any CST ancillary structure (such as entrances and ventilation shafts) within their land in good and serviceable repair; and
4. Preventing obstruction to any CST ancillary structure.

Please refer to Appendices 2 and 3 for details of the CST protection zone within the Marina Bay CST Area

URA to administer the CST Act for the Marina Bay CST Area

3.  The Urban Redevelopment Authority (“URA”) has been appointed as the CST Authority responsible for the administration of the CST Act for the Marina Bay CST Area with effect from 7 January 2021.

4.   Authorised Officers from URA have also been appointed to carry out the administration of CST Act for the Marina Bay CST Area.

Works Requiring Approval

5.   Prior written approval from the URA is required before:

1. Carrying out any engineering works within the Marina Bay CST protection zone.
2. Laying any utility services infrastructure including roads, drains, sewers etc within CST area.
3. Carrying out any works or activities which may affect CST ancillary structures, including erecting or placing any structure or object across or within any CST ancillary structure.

Application for Development / Engineering Works
(See Appendix 4 for flowchart of works)

6.   Applications to obtain written approval for engineering works within the CST protection zone (as defined in paragraph 5(a) above) are to be submitted to URA at the BP/ST submission stage to the URA via Corenet.

7.   The current process of issuing a CST’s Advisory Notes together with the first Written Direction (WD) or Written Permission (WP) at the planning approval stage will continue. The CST’s Advisory Notes serve as a guide for the applicant to obtain written approval for engineering works within the CST protection zone.

Application for Other Works and Activities
(See Appendices 5 and 6 for flowcharts of works)

8.   Applications to obtain written approval for:

1. Laying of utilities services infrastructure within the Marina Bay CST Area (as defined in paragraph 5(b) above) are to be submitted to URA via the LTA Prompt System; and
2. Activities including non-engineering works that may cause obstruction to CST ancillary structures within the Marina Bay CST Area (as defined in paragraph 5(c) above) are to be submitted via email: URA_CST_DA@ura.gov.sg.

9.   The submission requirements for applications for the Marina Bay CST Area under the CST Act are set out in the CST guidelines. The CST Act and the CST guidelines are available online.

10.  I would appreciate it if you could convey the contents of this circular to your members / public licensees. For feedback or enquiries, please email us at URA_CST_DA@ura.gov.sg.

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