Extension of Grace Period for Parking at HDB and URA Car Parks for Taxi and Private Hire Vehicles

37 Ms Mariam Jaafar asked the Minister for National Development whether the Ministry will consider extending the grace period for parking in HDB and URA car parks for taxi and private hire drivers.

Mr Desmond Lee: Prior to April 2020, the grace period at all Housing and Development Board (HDB) and Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) car parks was 10 minutes. HDB and URA temporarily extended the grace period to 20 minutes in response to the COVID-19 situation then. Subsequently, as the situation stabilised, HDB and URA adjusted the grace period to 15 minutes with effect from 1 September 2022.

Based on the car park usage data, HDB and URA have assessed that the current 15-minute grace period is broadly sufficient for motorists to search for a parking lot or to carry out drop-off and pick-up activities.

The grace period is kept short to facilitate a quick turnover of vehicles in the car parks. This prevents congestion in the car parks, allows more motorists to access the car parks, and ensures that the interests of residents who drive or have season parking are taken care of. Nonetheless, we will continue to monitor the ground situation and review the grace period if necessary.