New bus services by end-2025 for areas farther away from city

Residents in areas like Bt Panjang, Punggol and Tengah can get to MRT stations faster

- Isabelle Liew

Six new bus services that will serve residents in areas such as Bukit Panjang, Punggol and Tengah will be rolled out over the next two months.

Another five new City Direct Services – buses that ply express routes between housing estates and the city - for the northeastern region will be introduced by the end of 2025, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) said on Oct 12. Two existing bus routes – 114 and 146 – will also be extended.

The efforts are part of the LTA’s $900 million Bus Connectivity Enhancement Programme, which aims to broaden the bus network in newer housing estates island-wide over eight years.

Acting Transport Minister Jeffrey Siow said the new services are meant to give residents who live farther away from the city more options, and take them to MRT stations more quickly.

From Oct 26, new bus service 104 will run between Punggol Coast and Woodleigh, connecting residents in Punggol Northshore, Sumang and Bidadari to MRT stations such as Punggol Coast, Buangkok and Serangoon.

On the same day, service 984 will begin operating between Bukit Panjang and Jurong East, connecting Teck Whye with Brickland in Tengah. It will take residents to Jurong East and Bukit Panjang MRT stations, as well as amenities such as polyclinics and schools.

Punggol residents will have a new service to Changi Airport from Nov 10. Service 44 will operate during the morning and evening peak periods on weekdays, excluding public holidays.

From Nov 17, new services 451, 452 and 453 will provide residents in Brickland district and other parts of Tengah with faster connections to MRT stations such as Bukit Gombak, Beauty World and Bukit Batok.

LTA said these services have limited stops to provide residents in estates farther away from transport nodes with a direct connection to MRT stations.