SINGAPORE - To combat crowds and reduce waiting times, the government has added more than 300 buses to the roads, and plans to introduce even more, the Land Transport Authority (LTA) and bus operators said in a joint statement on Thursday.

This is part of the ongoing Bus Service Enhancement Programme that began in 2012 to improve bus frequencies and provide more route options for commuters.

Between April and June this year, for example, the route of bus service 11 was extended, while three new City Direct Services - express bus services from the heartlands to the city - were introduced.

Two more new routes in Hougang and Punggol are slated to be implemented by September this year. Details are still being worked out.

As of June 30, 361 government-funded buses have been added to the network.

Additional buses were also deployed and had been effective in reducing waiting times.

More peak hour buses were added to a total of 17 services in the second quarter of 2014. This equates to 240 more peak-hour bus trips per week.

One example is bus service 84 which serves the Punggol area. Its buses now arrive at 10-minute intervals during the morning peak period, compared to 25-minute intervals previously.

More feeder buses were also activated during peak periods in areas such as Ang Mo Kio, Bedok, Boon Lay and Pasir Ris.

The LTA said that public transport operators have also upped their game, adding 70 more weekly trips during peak hours for 12 bus services in the second quarter.