Heavy traffic expected at land checkpoints ahead of March school holidays, Hari Raya Puasa: ICA

SINGAPORE – Travellers heading north can expect heavy traffic at the Tuas and Woodlands checkpoints ahead of the upcoming March school holidays and Hari Raya Puasa.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA), in a statement on March 7, said more than three million travellers crossed the Woodlands and Tuas checkpoints over the Chinese New Year period between Jan 24 and Jan 30, peaking at 521,000 travellers in a single day on Jan 24.

During peak periods, people travelling by car waited for up to three hours for immigration clearance due to traffic tailbacks from Malaysia.

The March school holiday period will be from March 14 to March 24, while the Hari Raya Puasa holiday period is from March 28 to April 1, ICA noted.

Travellers are reminded to ensure that their passports have a remaining validity of at least six months, and not to bring in prohibited or controlled items, ICA said.

Those travelling by car and motorcycle are

encouraged to use QR codes instead of passports

for faster and more convenient immigration clearance. Motorists are also advised to check the traffic situation at the land checkpoints before embarking on their journey, and to refrain from queue-cutting, which compromises the safety of others on the road, ICA added.

Errant motorists caught queue-cutting will be turned away and redirected to the end of the line.

As an alternative, travellers can consider using the cross-border bus service.

Bus operating hours and timings can be found on the Land Transport Authority’s MyTransport.SG app or on the operator’s website.

Stern action may be taken against travellers who fail to comply with officers’ instructions and who commit offences at either checkpoint, said ICA.