Pickleball enthusiasts will soon have more space to enjoy their favourite sport, as the authorities move to open new facilities across the island. Sport Singapore (SportSG) has revealed plans to retrofit part of the Little India Bus Terminal for recreational pickleball use.
A request for quotation was published to GeBIZ on 10 October 2025, titled Addition and Alteration (A&A) Works to Convert Sections of Little India Bus Terminal (LIBT) for Recreational Pickleball Activities (reference no. SSC000ETQ25000035). The RfQ calls for these works to be delivered by 30 November 2025.
According to the Straits Times, parts of the bus terminal will be converted into eight pickleball courts. The facility is slated to open in early 2026 and be available for use from Mondays to Saturdays.
Little India Bus Terminal currently operates only on Sundays as a pick-up point for private buses that ferry migrant workers back to their dormitories from Little India. Located along Tekka Lane, the terminal consists of two sheltered structures that otherwise remain unused for most of the week.
The conversion of the Little India Bus Terminal is part of SportSG’s broader plan to expand Singapore’s pickleball infrastructure. Adapting the existing facility for pickleball would maximise its usefulness outside of Sundays, while avoiding the need to build new courts from scratch. The central location right next to Little India MRT station also makes the facility easily accessible by public transport.
SportSG’s move comes amid surging demand for pickleball courts. As CNA reported earlier this year, Singapore’s pickleball boom has made it increasingly difficult to secure booking slots. About 70 courts are currently available through ActiveSG, including those under the dual-use scheme, where school facilities are open to the public on weekends. Yet bookings can be competitive — ActiveSG recorded around 8,000 court bookings per month in the first half of 2025.
Private venues offer additional options but are often costlier, with hourly rentals ranging from S$20 to S$40. In comparison, ActiveSG charges between S$3.50 and S$7.40 per hour for indoor courts.
Late October Update
The repurposing of Little India Bus Terminal was subsequently reported on Facebook by Alvin Tan, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC (Moulmein-Cairnhill) [Link], and also by The Straits Times [Link].
Additional details on the project were disclosed:
- Facility slated to open in early 2026 and can be booked via SportSG’s booking platform MyActiveSG+.
- Facility will be open to the public from Mondays to Saturdays.
- Parts of the bus terminal will be converted into eight pickleball courts, measuring at least 128 sq m each
- Queue lanes for the bus services will need to be redrawn as some berths will be occupied by the pickleball courts
- Nets with a height of at least 2.2m will also be installed around the perimeter of the terminal to prevent stray balls from escaping onto the roads.
- Modification works will start from November and are slated to be completed within six weeks
SportSG to build pickleball courts at Little India | The Straits Times
External Links & References:
- Sports Facilities Master Plan | Sport Singapore [Accessed 13 Oct 2025]
- Singapore’s pickleball boom brings growing pains – CNA [Accessed 13 Oct 2025]
- GeBIZ
See Also:
Article originally published on 15 October 2025.