Section 17

Where the Director-General intends to make any new street or widen, open, enlarge or otherwise improve any existing street, he may prepare a plan incorporating all premises set aside as street reserves pursuant to any development proposals approved by the competent authority and, by an instrument in the form approved by the Registrar of Titles or the Registrar of Deeds, as the case may be, declare that the street reserves shall vest in the Government.

Any plan prepared by the Director-General under this section shall comply with the requirements of the Land Titles Act [Cap. 157] in respect of registered land and of the Registration of Deeds Act [Cap. 269] in respect of other lands and shall show thereon the premises which will vest in the Government.

Such a declaration shall be published in the Gazette.

Where any street reserve that has become vested in the Government under this section comprises premises included in separate lots already set aside as part of a street reserve, the declaration shall be registered against those lots under the provisions of the Land Titles Act in respect of registered land and under the provisions of the Registration of Deeds Act in respect of other lands.

Where any street reserve that has become vested in the Government under this section comprises premises included in an existing lot or existing lots, the premises forming the street shall be excised from the existing lot or lots and the declaration shall be registered in respect of the excised portions under the provisions of the Land Titles Act in respect of registered land and under the provisions of the Registration of Deeds Act in respect of other lands.

Upon such registration the premises forming the street reserve shall vest in the Government free from all encumbrances and where the premises are held under a statutory land grant, such vesting shall not be deemed to create a sub-division within the meaning of the State Lands Act [Cap. 314].

No compensation shall be payable for any premises vested in the Government pursuant to this section.

When the Director-General has pursuant to this section registered any instrument, he may take possession of the premises described therein and may proceed to demolish and remove any building or portion of any building forming part thereof.[16A