Friday 31 March 2017

Woodlands Checkpoint extension

Woodlands Checkpoint extension to be built at Old Woodlands Town Centre

An extension of the Woodlands Checkpoint will be built at the Old Woodlands Town Centre as part of efforts to upgrade the checkpoint, the Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) and Singapore Land Authority (SLA) said on Thursday (Mar 30).

To build the extension, two privately owned plots of land within the town centre - 268 Woodlands Centre Road, or Woodlands Point, and 270 Woodlands Centre Road - will be acquired by the authorities. Both land plots are located immediately east of the current checkpoint.

The total land area to be acquired is 3,264 sqm, and the land was gazetted by SLA for acquisition on Thursday.

Three lessees and 14 tenants are affected, SLA said, adding that it will assist affected owners and tenants throughout the acquisition process.

"As the sites are needed for the extension of the Woodlands Checkpoint, we have given the affected lessees and tenants 18 months (by Oct 1, 2018) to hand over the properties," a spokesperson said.

Market value compensation as at the date of gazette will also be paid, he added.

EXTENSION TO INCREASE CAPACITY, SECURITY

The extension of the checkpoint will increase the clearance capacity and enhance security, ICA and SLA said in the joint news release.

“Since the opening of WCP (Woodlands Checkpoint) in 1999, traveller and vehicle volumes through WCP have been increasing over the years while the security threat has heightened significantly. The WCP has to be upgraded to meet growing traffic needs and ensure that immigration clearance remains secure,” the release said.

ICA said it is conducting a feasibility study to determine the optimal design of the extension and the full extent of upgrading and redevelopment works required.

The Old Woodlands Town Centre, which housed a cinema, bus interchange, hawker centre and retail shops in its heyday, was earmarked for redevelopment by the Housing & Development Board under the Selective En Bloc Redevelopment Scheme in June 2012.

Upgrading works will be progressively carried out at the existing Woodlands Checkpoint without compromising checkpoint operations, ICA and SLA said.

~News courtesy of Channel News Asia~

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