Heading to a ONE Countdown 2025 event? Check crowd levels online first, police advise

SINGAPORE: As the nation prepares to usher in the new year next week, the police are advising the public to check crowd levels online before heading out for festivities. 

ONE Countdown 2025 - the first in a series of events celebrating Singapore's 60 years of independence - will see celebrations across multiple locations such as Sentosa and Orchard Road.

The Marina Bay Singapore Countdown 2025 and Let’s Celebrate 2025 at the Singapore Sports Hub will be held on New Year's Eve through to the early hours of Jan 1. 

The Singapore Police Force (SPF) in a press release on Saturday (Dec 28) said it is expecting large crowds to join in the festivities around the Marina Bay and Kallang Basin areas. 

It encouraged the public to check Crowd@MarinaBay and Crowd@Kallang for real-time information on crowd levels, area closures, available transport nodes and movement routes before heading down. 

Information about Orchard Road and Sentosa will also be available via Crowd@OrchardRoad and Crowd@Sentosa. 

Users will be able to access these platforms via their mobile devices from 7pm on Dec 31.

Police officers and other security personnel will be deployed to ensure the safety and security of the public, as well as to manage crowds in the Marina Bay and the Singapore Sports Hub areas. 

There will also be enhanced patrols conducted by various police units during this period.

Members of the public are "strongly advised" not to cycle in the vicinity of Marina Bay and Kallang Basin as the area will be congested and the risk of causing hurt to self and others in the event of a collision is high, said the police. 

To prevent overcrowding, police officers and security personnel will regulate the number of people entering The Promontory, Merlion Park, Esplanade Park, Esplanade Waterfront Promenade, Marina Bay Sands Waterfront Promenade and other areas at Marina Bay. 

Similar crowd control measures will be implemented at Stadium Roar and Water Sports Centre for the Kallang Basin.

The entrances and exits of certain MRT stations will be closed to regulate crowd flow, said the police, adding that City Hall, Raffles Place, Bayfront, Stadium, Tanjong Rhu and Nicoll Highway MRT stations are expected to be very crowded.

"In the event of overcrowding, trains may bypass affected stations, such as Bayfront MRT station and Stadium MRT Station, to divert crowds away from these crowded areas," said SPF. 

"Members of the public are advised to be patient and to follow the instructions of security personnel on duty."

The public is encouraged to use other nearby alternatives such as Esplanade, Promenade, Downtown, Marina Bay, Kallang and Mountbatten MRT stations.

The police also noted that the pathways along the Esplanade Bridge, Bayfront Avenue, Merdeka Bridge and Tanjong Rhu Bridge are for "transit purposes" only.

This means pedestrians are not permitted to stop and congregate at these areas.

POST-EVENT

Dispersal after the events is likely to be slow due to the large crowds, said the police.

SPF added that it seeks the public's understanding that heavy traffic and delays are to be expected.

There will be designated routes out of Marina Bay and Kallang Basin to facilitate safe and orderly dispersal, with signs put up to indicate the route. 

Crowd flow into the train stations will also be regulated.

"Members of the public may also be directed to another MRT station nearby to avoid overcrowding at certain MRT stations. 

"We seek your understanding to head to these less-crowded MRT stations and use the interconnected MRT networks to get to your intended destination," said the police. 

TRAFFIC ADVISORY

Road and lane closures will also be in place during the countdown.

The public is advised to take public transport to Marina Bay due to limited parking spaces in the area.

Vehicles parked in the buildings located within the closed roads may not be able to exit during the road closure periods.

Additionally, parking at peripheral roads and the stopping of vehicles along the ECP (Benjamin Sheares Bridge) to watch the fireworks are strictly prohibited. 

Enforcement action will be taken against errant motorists and vehicles causing obstruction will be towed.