New Johor terminal for Singapore-Malaysia express buses

New Johor terminal for Singapore-Malaysia express buses ready by year end

The new terminal, GP Sentral, situated along Jalan Gelang Patah-Kampong Ulu Choh, on the outskirts of Gelang Patah in Johor, is slated to open by the end of the year. (Photo: Alfred Chua)

The possibility of a centralised bus terminal here for Singapore-Malaysia express bus services is looking slim, even though some progress has been made across the Causeway.

Express Bus Agencies Association (EBAA), which represents 30 companies, told TODAY that a new centralised bus terminal, which it has invested in, is near completion at Gelang Patah in Johor.

The new terminal, GP Sentral, situated along Jalan Gelang Patah-Kampong Ulu Choh, on the outskirts of Gelang Patah, is slated to open by the end of the year. There is no traction yet for such a terminal in Singapore.

Replying to a question by Nominated Member of Parliament Teo Siong Seng in Parliament last week, Parliamentary Secretary (Transport) Muhammad Faishal Ibrahim said that projected demand for inter-city bus services "did not merit the provision of a centralised inter-city bus terminal".

Associate Professor Faishal said there was "little indication of growth in inter-city travel". "In fact, the number of inter-city bus licences this year has declined by 9 per cent," he noted.

"The existing approach where bus operators ride on existing infrastructure at various premises for their passenger boarding and alighting operations remains adequate to support the projected growth in demand."

He added that the Land Transport Authority will "continue to monitor the demand for inter-city bus services and, if necessary, review the need for a centralised bus terminal".

To the EBAA's Terminal Services Sub-Committee Chairman Sebastian Yap, it was disappointing that the authorities have not yet given the green light for such a project. His association had "waited quite a while for an official reply" on the issue, he said.

In 2004, the Urban Redevelopment Authority rejected a proposal to convert Turf City into a bus terminal. The Government then offered a plot of land near Turf Club in Kranji, but both sides were unable to agree on key points, like the terminal location.

In 2007, the association identified a site at Seah Im Road, off Telok Blangah Road, while shortlisting other possible locations at Victoria Street, Outram Park and Jurong East. The plans, however, failed to get off the ground. This led the EBAA to decide, in 2010, to invest in a new bus terminal in Johor.

The main terminal, which will have 15 bus bays, and a neighbouring petrol kiosk have been built. Nearby facilities will include eateries and retail shops, while the terminal will have a food court, money changers and a centralised ticketing counter, said the EBAA.

Mr Yap, who is also Executive Director at Transtar Travel, declined to comment on the costs involved.

The EBAA had envisioned the terminal to "be the first and the last stop for Singapore-Malaysia bus services".

In addition, the terminal will "cater to the Johor-Singapore market", taking passengers from the Malaysian state to various points in Singapore, a route now served by buses plying the Causeway, not the Second Link.

Mr Yap said this can help promote people taking day-trips into Singapore.

~News courtesy of Channel Newsasia~