SINGAPORE - The stretch of Orchard Road between Scotts Road and Bideford Road, which lies in front of Ion Orchard to Ngee Ann City, will be closed on March 1 to make way for the Chingay SG50 Night Fiesta.

It will not be accessible from 5pm on Sunday to 2am on Monday, the People's Association (PA) and the Singapore Police Force said in a joint statement on Friday .

Also, the one way carriageway along Paterson Road, in the direction of Grange Road, will also be closed from 5pm to midnight on Sunday to act as a holding area for performers and floats. The other carriageway along that road will be converted to allow bi-directional traffic flow.

Auxiliary Police Officers will be deployed at the affected roads to assist motorists and regulate traffic.

Parking restrictions along the peripheral roads will be strictly enforced and vehicles found parking indiscriminately or causing obstruction will be towed away.

Those taking public transport should take note that services calling at the bus stop in front of Tang Plaza and the bus stop in front of Lucky Plaza will be affected by the road closures.

This includes bus services 36, 77, 124, 143, 162, 162M, 167, 171, 174, 174e, 190, 518, 518A, 700, 700A, 971E, NR6, NR7 serving the bus stop in front of Tang Plaza and bus services 7, 14, 14e, 16, 65, 106, 111, 123, 175, 502, 502A, NR6, NR7 which serve the bus stop in front of Lucky Plaza.

The main organisers of Chingay, the People's Association, said dispersal of the crowd after the event is expected to be slow and has urged the public to be patient and to follow the instructions of Police officers and Auxiliary Police officers.

Crowd control barricades and directional signs will be put up to facilitate safe and orderly crowd dispersal.

The association added that bags and personal items may be subjected to checks for security reasons.

Members of public may contact the organiser at 6340 5322 for any enquiries. More details on the bus diversion routes can be found from www.sbstransit.com.sg and www.smrt.com.sg.