Gali Batu Bus Depot is a multi-storey bus depot along Jalan Gali Batu. The bus depot supports buses operating in the Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang areas, with facilities designed to handle over 500 buses, with an attached dormitory for transport workers.
The depot is currently operated by SMRT Buses. Bus operations based at Gali Batu began on 4 October 2025, in tandem with the closure of Kranji Bus Depot.
| General Information | |
| Name | Gali Batu Bus Depot |
| Address | 5 Jalan Gali Batu, Singapore 679530 |
| Depot Information | |
| BCM Route Package | Choa Chu Kang–Bukit Panjang Bus Package |
| Incumbent Operator | SMRT Buses |
| Years In Operation | From 4 Oct 2025 |
| Catchment | Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Panjang, Gali Batu |
Overview
Gali Batu Bus Depot is a five-storey bus depot located in the Gali Batu area of Singapore. It opened in 2025 on a 6.28-hectare site north of the Kranji Expressway, adjacent to the Downtown Line’s Gali Batu MRT Depot and opposite the Gali Batu Bus Terminal.
The depot was developed and funded by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), and is currently operated by SMRT Buses. Under the Bus Contracting Model (BCM), it is part of the Choa Chu Kang–Bukit Panjang Bus Package and supports bus operations in Choa Chu Kang, Bukit Panjang, and surrounding areas. Designed to accommodate around 500 buses, the depot provides both parking and maintenance facilities for buses, and an attached staff dormitory.
Gali Batu Bus Depot is the sixth bus depot built under LTA, and the third multi-storey depot to be commissioned. It is the fourth multi-storey bus depot in Singapore, after Woodlands, Soon Lee and Sengkang West.
Facilities
The depot is equipped with a large-scale, high-power electric vehicle charging system, which supports LTA’s plans for bus fleet electrification. There are 240 dual-gun CCS2 direct current (DC) chargers, each rated at 360 kW installed in the depot.
The chargers were installed under Contract BD401B – Electric Vehicles Charging System (EVCS) for Electric Buses, which was awarded to Presico Engineering Pte Ltd for S$14.8 million in November 2023.
This allows the depot to support more than 200 electric buses, inclusive of three-door electric single deck buses procured in 2023, namely BYD BC12A04 and Zhongtong LCK6126EVG buses.
In addition to bus parking and maintenance areas, the depot is equipped with a maintenance workshop, staff lounge, canteen, and administrative offices. Operational systems include an automatic bus washing facility and a waste oil recycling system. The depot incorporates various green features such as rooftop greenery, solar photovoltaic panels with an estimated capacity of 1.5 MWp, and various water-saving systems.
Staff accommodation is provided in a five-storey dormitory complex within the site, capable of housing up to 350 people. The dormitory contains 39 apartment units with ensuite toilets, kitchens, and yards, as well as shared recreational facilities. It is managed independently from the main depot and has its own security and access systems. Similar dormitories have also been included in other bus depots developed by LTA, like Sengkang West, and upcoming bus depots.
The dormitory complex, named SQ@Gali Batu, is located at 7 Jalan Gali Batu, Singapore 679531.
SMRT also plans to house its Integrated Mobility Operations Control Centre at Gali Batu, where buses, taxis, private hire vehicles, and even autonomous buses will be monitored and coordinated under one roof.
SMRT’s Bus Training & Evaluation Centre (BTEC) was also relocated to Gali Batu. It is a simulator-based training centre jointly set up by SMRT and the Devan Nair Institute for Employment and Employability (e2i). The facility opened in July 2015 and was formerly hosted at e2i’s premises in Jurong East.
Location
The location of Gali Batu Bus Depot was confirmed in August 2017 through the approval of changes to the URA Masterplan 2014, with the bus depot site rezoned for transport use.
Construction
Contract DE142 for the Proposed Multi-Storey Gali Batu Bus Depot was published on 22 October 2018. It was awarded to Greatearth Corporation Pte. Ltd. – Gamuda Berhad Singapore Branch Joint Venture (55%-45% ownership) for a sum of S$260 million on 12 November 2019. The original contract duration was 41 months, which aligned with the expected completion year of 2023.
In August 2021, local construction company Greatearth went bust amid the COVID-19 pandemic. LTA subsequently undertook discussions with joint venture partner Gamuda Berhad Singapore, the Singapore branch of Malaysian infrastructure firm Gamuda, on how to ‘ensure project continuity and minimise the impact on the completion timeline’. At that time, the depot was around 15 per cent completed and was slated to be completed around 2024.
According to Gamuda’s annual reports, the contract was wholly novated to Gamuda Berhad Singapore Branch on 2 December 2021, which took over responsibility for delivering Contract DE142 as the sole contractor. It was also granted contract extensions owing to the productivity losses caused by COVID-19 and adverse underground conditions. The reports also stated an expected completion date in December 2024.
According to Gamuda, the project is also set to achieve a BCA Green Mark for New Non-Residential Buildings, with green features such as:
- LED and photovoltaic (PV) solar panels
- Rainwater harvesting system
- Automatic irrigation system with rain sensors
- Cooling tower water treatment
- Chemical water treatment for the cooling tower to achieve 7 cycles of concentration (COC)
- Green building materials
- Electric Vehicle Charging System with fast-charging capability
- Sustainable Landscape Management through the adoption of native green species, with more than 50% of the flora selected wherever possible to maintain the local ecosystem
Revised Depot capacity
In a November 2018 article by Lianhe Zaobao, the depot was said to be due for completion in 2023, with a capacity of 600 buses. Gamuda’s annual reports mention the depot’s parking capacity of 715 buses.
Revised figures released by LTA in August 2021 state a completion date of 2024 and a capacity of ‘around 500 buses‘, and the same figure was reiterated by LTA in October 2025 following the opening of the depot. The reduced depot capacity could be the result of modifications to the initial depot design to accommodate electric vehicle charging infrastructure.
Operational History
In late March 2025, SMRT Corporation published a tender (M252600002-QX25-008) for office fitting-out for the admin building and workshop areas at Gali Batu Bus Depot, possibly indicating a handover sometime in 2025.
The depot officially commenced operations on 4 October 2025, in tandem with the closure of Kranji Bus Depot. All bus operations were moved from Kranji to Gali Batu.
Gallery
2025 Pre-Opening / Fitting out
2023 Construction Progress
External Links & References:
- 应付日益增加乘客量 兀兰将建本地第二个多层巴士车厂 – Zaobao [Accessed 9 Nov 2018]
- 5 BTO projects face delays, 2 public projects affected as contractor Greatearth goes bust, Housing News & Top Stories – The Straits Times [Accessed 1 Sep 2021]
- More Electric Buses to be Deployed from December 2024 – Land Transport Authority [Accessed 25 Nov 2023]
- SMRT – A brand new chapter at Gali Batu Bus Depot (GBBD)! 🚍 Big… [Accessed 4 Oct 2025]
I want to see how messed up the bus depot allocation will be.
Bulim Depot in Jurong West -> Jurong East/Bukit Batok bus package (Bulim bus package).
Based on the timing,
Gali Batu Depot in Choa Chu Kang / Bukit Panjang may actually go to Jurong West, since both will be tendered out in 2023.
Whereas Tengah Depot in Tengah… Probably Choa Chu Kang / Bukit Panjang, if that’s the case.
A bit not effective leh, if like that.
If the emphasis is on economic effectiveness,
Tengah Depot should go to Jurong West bus package, since it is at the heart of the Jurong West bus package.
Whereas Gali Depot should go to Choa Chu Kang and Bukit Panjang bus package.
Just saying.
Tengah Depot is replacement for Bulim which the latter will be demolished for industrial purposes.
Soon Lee Depot will be integrated with the CRL Tuas West Depot.
Gali Batu is for Kranji replacement.
CCK-BPJ package might get a 1 year extension cause the depot will be ready early 2024
Well,if the capacity is reduced to 500 meaning more bus service will be cut or transfer into other package.The current 32 SMRT bus service use more than 425 buses not including spare buses.
Gali Batu will have a capacity of 615 buses.
I believe Gali Batu Bus Depot is the replacement for Kranji Bus Depot