WHEN the Malayan Railway line was constructed over a century ago, by linking tiny Singapore to the vast Eurasian hinterland, it symbolised connectivity and progress (''Nature corridor' proposal for railway land'; last Saturday).
Over the years, it has acquired a rich patina of history not only as an important transport link, but also in the collective memory of people who have travelled to and from Singapore.
In recent decades, the line had come to be viewed as politically divisive and a thorny barrier to efficient land use planning. But it still connects people and places and, because it is one of the rare places on the island left untouched by development, has evolved an intricate network of micro-ecosystems.
Now that the political differences have been resolved, it is not surprising for public interest to be focused on the fate of the line.
The most unimaginative 'solution' - and a costly mistake - would be for policymakers, planners and developers to parcel out the land as real estate, dismantle the line and erase the railway.
A more inclusive and considered approach would have recognised their value as ballast in nation-building and sustainable development.
By exploring more creative, sensitive and inclusive ways of using the railway and its land, we would be enhancing rather than reducing its value.
Dr Geh Min
Immediate Past President
Nature
Society (Singapore)