SINGAPORE – More than 1.2 million travellers have crossed the land borders between Singapore and Malaysia since they reopened absolutely on April 1.
The quantity is anticipated to extend considerably in the approaching days, as extra travellers head to Johor to spend the lengthy Good Friday weekend.
The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) mentioned that as at 5pm on Thursday (April 14), 662,900 people have departed Singapore through the Causeway and the Second Link.
Of these travellers, 229,800 departed on foot or buses, 232,800 in vehicles and the remaining 200,300 on bikes.
Meanwhile, 601,700 people have arrived in Singapore through the land borders to this point, with 208,500 approaching foot or buses, 207,800 in vehicles and 185,400 on bikes.
According to figures offered by ICA, the variety of travellers through the land borders have been selecting up.
The variety of travellers passing via the land checkpoints between final Friday (April 8) and Sunday was about 62 per cent greater than what it was the week earlier than.
About 415,000 used the Causeway and the Second Link each day earlier than the pandemic. The Causeway was one of many world’s busiest land crossings.
While the present quantity of travellers are nonetheless a lot decrease than pre-pandemic ranges, a way of normality has been restored to the 2 land checkpoints in the previous two weeks.
Many Malaysian staff have returned to commuting each day to Singapore. Some Singaporeans have additionally returned to Johor for brief getaways.
When The Straits Times visited the Woodlands Train Checkpoint constructing on Thursday night, a protracted queue of travellers stretching far past the constructing had fashioned by 6.30pm.
Train companies between Singapore and Malaysia are but to renew. But these seeking to head to Johor both by foot or through shuttle buses throughout the Causeway have to cross via the prepare checkpoint constructing to get to the immigration clearance corridor.
ICA has mentioned that it’s going to take away a requirement for Singapore residents and long-term cross holders to fill in the SG Arrival Card once they arrive in the nation from Friday.
But whereas this can velocity up the immigration clearance course of for these arriving in Singapore, it is not going to have an influence in phrases of rushing up clearance for departures.
ICA officers instructed ST they have been working arduous to arrange for the resumption of mass journey on the land borders between Singapore and Johor.
Deputy Superintendent Ramaya Jeeva, an assistant commander at Woodlands Checkpoint, mentioned the officers deployed there have been usually going via drills to make sure clean operations.
He famous that ICA now has a complete of 29 automated immigration counters to course of travellers departing Singapore. Nine of those counters are new bidirectional counters that may be configured to serve arriving travellers if wanted.
To velocity up immigration clearance, ICA has additionally labored along with different companies such because the Ministry of Health to confirm a traveller’s Covid-19 vaccination standing mechanically.
DSP Ramaya mentioned he expects traveller volumes throughout this lengthy weekend to succeed in 80 per cent of the volumes previous to the pandemic.
“Travellers should factor in additional time for immigration clearance. If possible, they should plan their journeys so as to avoid the peak periods such as Thursday evening (for departures) and Sunday afternoon (for arrivals),” he added.
Security area supervisor Sergeant Nur Azilah Mohamad Yazid mentioned the human visitors passing via Woodlands Checkpoint in the final two weeks has been much like that earlier than the pandemic.
But vehicular visitors stays visibly decrease than pre-pandemic ranges, with many Malaysian motorists nonetheless ready for his or her automobile entry permits.
“It is nice to see all the traffic being back,” she added. “It is slowly becoming what I am used to seeing before the pandemic.”
