SINGAPORE: National Day is just three weeks away and there has been no let-up in preparations ahead of the big day on August 9.

The National Day Parade's Command & Control Centre is gearing up to cope with emergencies. Unlike last year when all roads surrounding the Marina Floating platform were closed during the National Day Parade (NDP), the centre said it will implement partial road closures throughout the day until 8pm.

"Whatever we do will (affect) the business activities here. What we have learnt from last year is that we have to be very selective as to how we want to manage the traffic... So this year, we are not closing the road early, but only close it as and when we required," said Colonel Wong Kan Foo, Director of Operations.

This year, props of more than 4,000 performers will be stored under the Benjamin Sheares bridge near the floating platform. Last year, props were kept at the platform's various locations.

The centre said centralising the location has reduced the retrieval of props to just 10 minutes. - CNA /ls