PUBLIC TRANSPORT SYSTEM SERVING TEMASEK POLYTECHNIC (Improvement)

Mr Ong Kian Min asked the Minister for Communications whether there are any plans to improve the public transportation system serving Temasek Polytechnic to cater to the large number of people attending full-time courses as well as part-time skills redevelopment and upgrading courses at the Polytechnic.

Dr Yaacob Ibrahim (for the Minister for Communications): Mr Speaker, Sir, in 1995, when Temasek Polytechnic shifted to its present campus at Tampines, SBS introduced new bus services and improved the existing ones to serve the polytechnic. Since then, SBS has beefed up these services to cater to the growing student demand. Today, there are four bus services (SBS 8, 15, 23 and 69) with a total of 67 buses serving the polytechnic. These services provide easy access to nearby Bedok and Tampines MRT stations, and to major roads such as Eunos Link, Paya Lebar Road and Bendemeer Road where transfers are readily available. In addition, Townlink Service 291 which serves Tampines is available at Tampines Street 81 which is within walking distance of the Polytechnic. LTA has asked SBS to monitor the demand for bus services by Temasek Polytechnic students and to increase the number of buses where necessary.