Senior Minister of State for Transport and Law Mr Murali Pillai’s Media Soundbite on Enhancement Works to Six Bus Interchanges

1.           Public transport plays a big part in every Singaporean’s lives. Every day, millions of commuters pass through our public transport nodes to get to work, to get to their schools, or to their loved ones back at home.

2.           Our Government has been making steady investments to enhance our public transport system. For example, this year alone, we have opened three new MRT stations as part of the Circle Line and announced four new stations as part of the Cross Island Line. We have also introduced more bus services under the Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme. With more buses calling at the interchanges, we need to look at the circulation space within the bus interchanges to make sure that they are adequate.

3.           Our bus interchanges play a very important role in our hub-and-spoke transport system. It is through the bus interchanges that our commuters can get from feeder buses to trunk buses, as well as to the MRT. Our bus interchanges also offer access to our neighbourhood amenities. For all these reasons, bus interchanges contribute a lot to the daily commuting experience.

4.           In 2024, LTA announced the upgrading of seven bus interchanges, including Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, as well as Sengkang. I am glad to note that works are on track and they should be completed by next year.

5.           Today, I am happy to announce that six more bus interchanges will be upgraded. They include Bishan, Bukit Merah, Eunos, Punggol, Tampines, and this Bukit Batok interchange. Bukit Batok interchange first opened in 1987; there is a certain retro feel to it, so I think it is about time that it gets upgraded, together with the other five bus interchanges. So, what can commuters look forward to? A more comfortable, more family-centred, as well as a more inclusive environment. The ventilation systems, aircon systems will be revamped, and we will have priority queues for the mobility-challenged, tactile guided paths for the visually challenges and more seats for seniors. For our bus captains, we will upgrade their staff facilities too.

6.           A lot to do, a lot to look forward to, but we cannot get there immediately. In the meantime, when the works start, our commuters will be put to some level of disamenities and inconvenience, such as noise. But I do hope that our commuters can bear with it, so that in the future, when the works are completed in a few years, they can look forward to revamped facilities that will take care of their needs well into the future. Thank you.