ABSTRACT
In the 1990s, the domestic demands of the construction industry peaked at S $ 24 billion and contributed between 7 to 9 percent of Singapore’s GDP. However, according to Singapore’s Minister of State for National Development, Mr. Cedric Foo, the buoyant growth of the 1990s is not likely to be repeated.1 The construction industry in Singapore would stabilize at SGD $ 12 to $ 14 billion per year. However, construction services exports appear to be increasing to countries such as China and India. This is a trend that should be encouraged because as the domestic market becomes saturated and slows down, Singapore developers should look more toward the SGD $ 5 trillion global construction market.2 Senior Indian officials visiting Singapore noted the ability of the Singapore government to provide affordable urban housing. Singapore’s expertise and experience may help to ease the critical urban housing shortage, especially in the Indian cities. In terms of size, Singapore’s 647 square kilometers is not comparable to India’s three million square kilometers; nonetheless, India’s political elites such as former president K.R. Narayanan have visited Singapore’s townships to look at Singapore’s Housing and Development Board (HDB) residential precincts. In contrast, planning appears random in India’s metro cities such as Mumbai. In the federal capital, with limited land area, Delhi authorities are abolishing height restrictions for buildings to provide incentives for developers.3 Skyscraper dwellings will be a radical housing solution for Delhi where height restrictions have kept most buildings at tree level. However, with the annual arrival of half a million migrants driven by poverty to the city, radical solutions are required.4
