Extension Plans for Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange

Mr Alex Yam asked the Minister for Transport whether there are plans to relocate and expand the Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange that has been in service since 1991 so as to address issues of overcrowding and congestion due to new buses introduced under the Bus Service Enhancement Programme.

The Minister for Transport (Mr Lui Tuck Yew): Mdm Speaker, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) has assessed that the capacity of Choa Chu Kang Bus Interchange remains sufficient today, even with the additional bus services introduced as part of the Bus Service Enhancement Programme. During peak periods, the bus operator deploys marshals on the ground to facilitate commuter and bus circulation. LTA has also embarked on various traffic improvement measures around the interchange to smoothen the flow of buses. Over the medium term, my Ministry and other agencies are looking into redeveloping the Interchange in line with broader redevelopment plans for the Town Centre.

Mr Alex Yam (Chua Chu Kang): Mdm Speaker, I thank the Minister for his update. There have been some recent improvements but at its peak, there were occasions where buses waited about 20 minutes just to come in and out of the Interchange. My Parliamentary colleagues from the Group Representation Constituency (GRC) have also given some feedback. But in terms of the medium term, could the Minister be more specific in terms of the projected timeline, within next five to 10 years?

Mr Lui Tuck Yew: I would say within the next three to five years.

Mr Zaqy Mohamad: First, I want to thank the Minister for the improvement works that have been done of late. I know LTA has put in a lot of effort because the Interchange falls in my division and we have seen the improvements from an about 20-minute wait, to today, at maximum, it takes about 10 minutes' wait to get to the Interchange. So, certainly, there is improvement but I think there is also room for further improvements because residents still do find some issues.

But, generally, I would also like to clarify with Minister whether in the Town Plan and in the redevelopment, whether the Ministry was also considering a more holistic development of the area, including whether it is going to include shops and other amenities, such as what we have seen in the new bus interchanges.

Secondly, would the Ministry also consider relooking at the flow of buses, because all the buses are coming in through Choa Chu Kang Loop, which is a very small road? That was applicable 20 years, 30 years ago, but with greater flow today and more services in future, whether LTA can take into consideration road flow and whether we can enhance, either the roads or change the locations in which buses enter and exit the Interchange.

Mr Lui Tuck Yew: Mdm Speaker, I thank the Member for his two supplementary questions. On the redevelopment of the Town Centre, obviously this is something that will be done together with the URA, as well as other Government agencies which, I think the Member would be aware, have some tentative plans already for the area.

On the flow of buses, I think for the current Interchange located where it is, there have been a number of things that we have done - left turn on green arrow and localised widening of, for example, Choa Chu Kang Avenue 4, done over a period of time, finishing before the middle of next year.

As I talk about the possible redevelopment plans over the next three to five years, certainly, we will take into consideration how we can improve on the flow of buses in the new location, if that materialises.