As the Festival of Lights approaches, travellers planning to cross the Singapore-Malaysia border for Diwali festivities should brace themselves for hefty traffic. The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) has issued a travel advisory anticipating the surge at the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints. The ICA has forewarned of heavy congestion from Thursday to the following Tuesday, coinciding with the Diwali public holiday on Sunday and the onset of school holidays.
Due to the expected increase in traffic volume, travellers are advised to allocate extra time for immigration procedures. Those heading to Malaysia for the holiday season are encouraged to stay informed of traffic conditions through the Land Transport Authority’s OneMotoring website and the Expressway Monitoring and Advisory System, which provides updates for the Bukit Timah and Ayer Rajah expressways.
The ICA is not only taking steps to disseminate traffic updates via its social media platforms on Facebook and Twitter, but it is also coordinating with local radio stations such as Money FM 89.3, One FM 91.3, 96.3 Hao FM, and UFM100.3 to broadcast traffic conditions to the public. This multifaceted approach aims to keep travellers well-informed before they commence their journey.
Motorists have been appealed to be patient and adhere to traffic regulations. The ICA emphasizes the importance of maintaining lane discipline and cooperating with officers at the land checkpoints to ensure a smooth traffic flow. Collaborative efforts with the Traffic Police are in place to enforce road discipline and manage the expected vehicular influx at key junctions and roads leading to the checkpoints.
In the wake of the advisory, the ICA also reminds travelers to check their passport validity, which should be at least six months old. Additionally, Singapore permanent residents who renew their passports must transfer their re-entry permit to the new document. Long-term pass holders must also notify the ICA or the Ministry of Manpower of any passport details changes before returning to Singapore.
For those yet to secure their travel arrangements for the Diwali weekend, you should consider online bookings. redBus.sg offers a convenient platform for online booking ferries, bus tickets, attractions, tours, and activity tickets. To sweeten the deal, redBus.sg has discounts of up to 60% for Deepavali, making it an opportune time to plan and book your festive travel. Use redBus promo code DEEPAVALI60* and enjoy savings on your bookings this Deepavali!
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