‘Very heavy traffic’ expected at Singapore checkpoints during Deepavali weekend

 

Singapore’s Immigration and Checkpoints Authority says cars had to wait for up to three hours for clearance during the Children’s Day weekend in October. (File pic)

PETALING JAYA: Singapore’s Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints are expecting “very heavy traffic” from Nov 9 to 14, says its Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA).

The ICA attributed the anticipated congestion to the long Deepavali weekend and the year-end school holidays, The Straits Times reported.During the recent Children’s Day weekend from Oct 6 to 8, more than 1.27 million travellers used the land checkpoints, it said in a statement today.

ICA also said it saw the highest number of travellers crossing through the land checkpoints since the borders reopened in 2022. On that day alone, more than 460,000 crossings occurred, with about 260,000 being departing travellers.

“Those who departed by car had to wait up to three hours before they were cleared through immigration during the peak,” it said.

The authority also said security measures have also been stepped up at the checkpoints, given the developing situation in the Middle East.

“Travellers are thus advised to factor in additional waiting time for immigration clearance,” it said.

“We seek travellers’ understanding and cooperation to be patient, observe traffic rules, maintain lane discipline, and cooperate with officers on-site when using the land checkpoints.” - FMT