Pasir Panjang Bus Depot is a future multi-storey bus depot to be constructed in Pasir Panjang along Harbour Drive, slated to be ready by 2029.
The approximately 4-hectare site for the bus depot is presently occupied by the disused Pasir Panjang Distipark and near Pasir Panjang MRT Station.
| General Information | |
| Name | Pasir Panjang Bus Depot |
| Address | Harbour Drive |
| Depot Information | |
| BCMÂ Route Package | Bukit Merah Bus Package (TBC) |
| Incumbent Operator | To be confirmed |
| Years In Operation | To be confirmed |
| Catchment | To be confirmed |
Bus Depot & Location
Pasir Panjang Bus Depot is a multi-storey bus depot that can house about 550 buses to support bus operations in the southern region of Singapore. It comprises a seven-storey main building with chargers for electric buses, multi-storey quarters for transport workers and other ancillary buildings according to the Land Transport Authority (LTA), in a response to The Straits Times.
The depot will be located along Harbour Drive, at the present site of the disused Pasir Panjang Distripark. In August 2022, the 4 ha site where Pasir Panjang Bus Depot and ancillary buildings would be located was rezoned to Transport Facilities under Amendment No. 37/02 to the Urban Redevelopment Authority Master Plan 2019.
Construction
On 10 August 2023, LTA launched a construction tender (Contract DE195 – Pasir Panjang Bus Depot), in which the project delivery timeline was scheduled for 2028. The tender closes on 9 Nov 2023.
LTA also said that the completed depot will be handed over to the relevant public transport operator for outfitting and preparatory works in 2029.
Possible Route Package Assignment
Under Singapore’s Bus Contracting Model (BCM) which was implemented in 2016, ownership of all bus assets falls under the Land Transport Authority (LTA), which includes the construction of new bus depots. Each bus depot is tendered out as a route package.
Details on which Route Package the Pasir Panjang Bus Depot will be allocated under have yet to be announced by LTA. In a response to media queries from The Straits Times, LTA commented that the depot is “expected to support buses operating in the southern region of Singapore”.
This depot could be intended for the Bukit Merah Bus Package, which currently operates out of Ulu Pandan Bus Depot. Although Ulu Pandan Bus Depot only opened in 2018, it is sited on land zoned as a “Reserve site”, i.e. where a specific long-term future use has not been determined. The lease for the site which the current Ulu Pandan Bus Depot sits expires on 31 Dec 2025 and is likely to be extended. The LTA also did not comment on plans for Ulu Pandan Bus Depot after 2025 in response to ST’s queries.
The completion of the depot in 2029 aligns with the earliest contract expiry for Contract PT218 (2nd term for Bukit Merah Bus Package) in April 2029. This timeline provides sufficient time for the forthcoming operator of the Bukit Merah Bus Package to transition smoothly to the new bus depot should there not be any contract extension to its initial 5-year term.
Bukit Merah Bus Package contracts:
- 1st term / Contract PT203: November 2018 to April 2024
Awarded to SBS Transit Ltd; 5-year contract + 5 months extension granted - 2nd term / Contract PT218A: April 2024 onwards
Awarded to SBS Transit Ltd; minimum 5-year contract period. The earliest expiry will be in April 2029.
When completed in 2029, Pasir Panjang Bus Depot will be the eleventh bus depot commissioned by the LTA under the BCM, after Bulim, Loyang, Seletar, Ulu Pandan, Mandai, Sengkang West, Gali Batu, East Coast, Kim Chuan and Tengah.
I think LTA made a good choice of shifting Bukit Merah package to Pasir Panjang Depot (if its indeed going to be the case). This depot location is a lot closer to Bukit Merah/HarbourFront/Kampong Bahru than UPDEP. Now the question of what will happen to UPDEP remains.
Looking at the land-use plans, it does seem like the existing UPDEP and BBDEP will be consolidated into the new integrated bus depot next to the MRT depot. This means BBDEP will eventually cease operations also when Clementi bus package, which is the most likely choice, shifts operations to the relocated UPDEP. There has been speculations that the upcoming TGDEP will be given to Clementi package but it seems unlikely now that we know that there will be at least 2 bus depots that are closer to Clementi than TGDEP. TGDEP will probably be given to Bulim package and BUDEP will also cease operations when time to come.
Spot on,Bukit Merah already extend till May 24 so any winning operator will continue using Updep until 2029 which is just nice to shift to Ppdep.Tengah is for Bulim as the latter land side is for future development of industrial park in 2026.Right now LTA has start survey which land to be use for Ang Mo Kio,Bedok and Woodlands replacement depots.
Give this to Bukit Merah package, and give UPDEP to Clementi package?
Clementi already have the integrated Depot at Ulu Pandan MRT.This current depot will be demolished for future development just like Bulim.
Next Bedok North and Woodlands replacement.
WL still pretty new and supplemented by WLBP.
BN probably will be replaced by ECID. Maybe Tampines Retail Park got space for another bus park, who knows.
Problem is part of the ground floor is not DD friendly especially the water pipes..2nd floor is a bane for DD.Now full of private vehicles
LTA wait for the integrated Ulu Pandan bus depot to completed in 2025/26 next to the MRT depot to transfer cross border 160/170/170X into Clementi package.Most probably Buona Vista/Ghim Moh service like 32,48,74,91,92,100,111 & 191 will go to Bukit Merah package instead.
That reminds me. Bukit Merah and Jurong packages tender results taking forever to be made known.