New residents in Tengah are facing significant challenges due to the limited public transport options available in the area. As of September 26, 2023, the Housing and Development Board (HDB) reported that 295, or 12.6%, of the 2,333 units in the Plantation Acres and Plantation Grange precincts had their keys collected. However, many residents, like Chan Si Hui, have postponed their moves due to the inaccessibility of public transport.

Chan, who collected her keys on August 30, is currently renting another flat with her elderly parents and plans to move in only when a nearby bus stop along Tengah Boulevard opens in December. She expressed concern about the 15-minute walk to the nearest bus stop being too difficult for her 75-year-old parents, especially with ongoing construction affecting access to public transport.

The only bus routes currently serving the area are limited, with service 992 taking residents to Bukit Batok MRT station and bus interchange. Chan initiated a survey among her estate’s residents, gathering feedback about the need for direct bus services, particularly to Jurong East.

In response, Hong Kah North MP Amy Khor, who is also the Senior Minister of State for Transport, acknowledged the concerns raised by residents, stating that infrastructure development might be temporarily “out of sync.” The HDB has been issuing keys progressively for completed blocks due to construction delays, rather than waiting for the full precinct completion.

The Land Transport Authority (LTA) plans to enhance public transport connectivity for Tengah residents as more housing developments are completed in the area. They are expected to provide more details in the coming months.

Residents like Ken Quek and Chan Yuke Man shared similar frustrations regarding the distance to bus stops and the challenges of navigating the current public transport system. Quek noted his 15-minute walk to the bus stop requires him to take an indirect route, while Chan Yuke Man highlighted the need for multiple bus transfers to get his daughter to school.

As interim solutions, the HDB is implementing temporary measures, such as vending machines offering hot food at Block 111A in Plantation Acres and deploying a mobile grocery truck service starting in November or December. They emphasize that the development of amenities and infrastructure in the new Tengah town will take time compared to existing HDB developments.