Large MPVs to use bus lanes for faster immigration clearance at Tuas Checkpoint
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).
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.
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 “due to the differences in operating terrain”, said ICA.
“Nonetheless, ICA will continue to study our current processes and explore ways to improve travellers’ experience,” it said. CNA
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