TANAH MERAH BESAR (Re-routing of Bus Service Nos. 210, 213, 218)

Mr Teo Chong Tee asked the Minister for National Development and Communications whether he will request the Singapore Bus Service Limited to re-route Service Nos. 210, 213 and 218 to include Tanah Merah Besar and Jalan Darat Nanas as this will not only benefit approximately 500 residents living in and around those areas, which include Lloyd Leas Estate, but also provide convenience for workers going daily through Tanah Merah Besar to the new Changi Airport worksite.

The Acting Minister for Culture and Senior Minister of State for Communications (Mr Ong Teng Cheong) (for the Minister for National Development and Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, the SBS bus service Nos. 210, 213 and 218 are planned as feeder services to serve specific areas within short distances from the Changi Point Terminal.

At present, Upper Changi Road is served by Service Nos. 1 and 2 with a combined frequency of 27 buses per hour. Residents of Tanah Merah Besar/Jalan Darat Nanas and Lloyd Leas Estate need to walk about a quarter of a mile or less than half of a kilometer to catch a bus at Upper Changi Road. This is an acceptable walking distance. Moreover, the number of commuters in this area is small. For this reason, SBS cannot justify the re-routing required.