Large MPVs to use bus lanes for faster immigration clearance at Tuas Checkpoint
Vehicles entering Singapore from Malaysia at Tuas checkpoint. (File photo: Ernest Chua)
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SINGAPORE: Large multi-purpose vehicles (MPVs) at Tuas Checkpoint may be diverted to the bus zones to speed up immigration clearance for travellers, said the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Wednesday (Jan 3).
MPVs that fall under this category include Toyota Vellfire, Toyota Alphard, Hyundai Starex, Hyundai Staria and Maxus.
ICA said the move, implemented on Tuesday, came after feedback from car travellers about the delay caused by large MPVs with more passengers and that ICA should consider segregating them into different lanes.
The authority also noticed that large MPVs, which have a capacity for up to 12 passengers but in many instances carrying up to 16, would operate more like mini-vans or buses at checkpoints.
“Diverting such large MPVs to the bus lanes will speed up immigration clearance for both large MPVs and other cars, thus enhancing the overall experience for all travellers,” said ICA in a Facebook post late on Wednesday.
It added that smaller MPVs can continue to clear immigration through the car lanes.
Passengers on large MPVs will need to alight with their luggage and proceed to the bus hall for immigration clearance, while the driver clears immigration through the bus lane, said ICA.
For travellers with mobility issues, elderly, pregnant women or young children, ICA officers will facilitate immigration clearance on-board via the bus lanes, similar to bus passengers.
In response to CNA's queries, ICA said on Friday that there are prominent road gantry signs before the checkpoint, providing clear directions to the bus zones.
"Based on observation at Tuas Checkpoint these few days, a majority of the drivers of large MPVs are already aware of the route to the bus zones at Tuas Checkpoint and would proceed there directly for immigration clearance without being directed."
Similar initiatives were considered at Woodlands Checkpoint to ease the high traffic volume at the car zones, but those were deemed to be not feasible because of “infrastructural and operational considerations”, said ICA.
"Due to the numerous regular buses, such as SBS Transit and Causeway Link plying the causeway, there are not enough bus parking bays at Woodlands Checkpoint to accommodate the larger MPVs," ICA said, adding that it will continue to explore ways to improve travellers' experience.
