Hougang Central Bus Interchange

Plans to build a bus interchange in Hougang North were first announced in Parliament in January 1992.{{cite news |author= |date=16 January 1992 |title=MRT link to N-E when enough people live there |page=26 |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19920116-1.2.35.7 |access-date=23 October 2022 |via=NewspaperSG}} Intended to connect Hougang with adjacent new towns and the Central Area, the bus interchange was built in response to requests made by the Member of Parliament for the area to improve bus services.{{cite news |last=Tan |first=Cephah |date=24 March 1992 |title=MP's soft spot for the poor |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19920324-1.2.30.23 |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |access-date=23 October 2022 |via=NewspaperSG |page=25 }} Having cost {{SGD|5700000}} to build, Hougang Central Bus Interchange was subsequently opened by Minister of State (Trade and Industry and Communications) Goh Chee Wee on 17 December 1994.{{cite news |last=Dhaliwal |first=Rav |date=18 December 1994 |title=Govt studies plan to give buses priority at junctions |url=https://eresources.nlb.gov.sg/newspapers/Digitised/Article/straitstimes19941218-1.2.6.5 |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |access-date=23 October 2022 |via=NewspaperSG |page=3 }}

From 1998 to 2001, the interchange was closed to facilitate the construction of Hougang MRT station, and six bus services were diverted to a temporary bus interchange along Upper Serangoon Road.{{cite news |author= |date=21 May 1998 |title=Hougang interchange to be relocated |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |page=49 }} In February 2004, bus operations at the Hougang South bus interchange were shifted to this interchange.{{cite news |last=Goh |first=Chin Lian |date=18 November 2003 |title=SBS trims routes for three more bus services |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |page=H6 }}{{cite news |last1=Tan |first1=Hui Yee |last2=Lee |first2=Lynn |date=28 October 2003 |title=Carpark to replace bus interchange at Hougang |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |page=H5 }}

In 2015, the interchange was expanded by {{convert|0.3|ha|acres}}, to provide additional bus parking space for more bus services.{{cite news |last=Lim |first=Adrian |date=23 April 2015 |title=Bus interchanges, terminal to be expande |work=The Straits Times |location=Singapore |page=B6 }}

By 2030, Hougang Central Bus Interchange would be majorly renovated to accommodate the Cross Island line section, and would become an Integrated Transport Hub in 2030.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}} On October 30, 2024, it was announced that a new mixed-use development with a bus interchange would be built on a site above exit B of Hougang MRT station.{{Cite web |last=Ng |first=Keng Gene |date=30 October 2024 |title=Mixed-use complex to be built above Hougang MRT station, will support demand for homes in the area |url=https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/mixed-use-complex-to-be-built-above-hougang-mrt-station-first-mount-pleasant-housing-plots-being |website=The Straits Times}}

{{see also|Bus contracting model of Singapore}}

Under the new bus contracting model, with the exception of services 74 and 147 under Clementi, the rest of the services are under Sengkang-Hougang Bus Package.{{Citation needed|date=February 2023}}

Currently, all bus services at the interchange are operated by the anchor operator, SBS Transit.

{{reflist}}

• [http://www.sbstransit.com.sg/transport/trpt_bus_inter.aspx Interchanges and Terminals (SBS Transit)]

{{Singapore bus stations|state=expanded}}

Category:Bus stations in Singapore

Category:Buildings and structures in Hougang

Category:Transport in North-East Region, Singapore

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