More bus services being deployed is helpful only if our network of buses is well connected ("Extra buses bring little relief to commuters"; last Thursday).

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) has long removed buses running parallel to the MRT line.

With the increase in passenger load and the frequency of breakdowns, this certainly does not work except from a cost-efficiency point of view.

I live in Yew Tee, near Chua Chu Kang. Residents of the area depend heavily on the North-South MRT line and the limited bus services available for commuting.

I was stranded at Jurong East during the train service disruption last week. There was no bridging service to the Chua Chu Kang/Yew Tee Area.

I was advised to take a bus to Boon Lay bus interchange, then change to bus service 172, which would take me to Jalan Bahar and back to Chua Chu Kang. I would then have to change to another feeder bus service to get home.

Such a convoluted commuting route is unacceptable for a First World country.

Even as we work to extend the MRT network, the network and connectivity of buses also have to be improved, so that buses can be a reliable alternative for commuters, not only during train breakdowns, but also as an option for those who do not wish to squeeze into crowded trains.

Goh Poh Kheng (Ms)