The Home Ministry is currently considering the reopening of a “shortcut” at the Bangunan Sultan Iskandar Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex (BSI CIQ) in Johor Baru. This would provide pedestrians with a shorter route for passport clearance into Singapore. The minister, Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail, stated that a joint committee, chaired by himself and Johor Mentri Besar Datuk Onn Hafiz Ghazi, has been established to address the traffic congestion on the Causeway. The committee has discussed initiatives such as designated lanes for different types of vehicles and pedestrians. One aspect receiving serious attention is the reopening of the “shortcut,” although no timeline has been provided.
Saifuddin was responding to The Star’s report on August 17, which highlighted the requests of hundreds of pedestrians, including pregnant women and senior citizens, for the “shortcut” to be reopened. These individuals pointed out that the shorter route near the old Lion Hotel along Jalan Lingkaran Dalam would save them time compared to the current 1.5km walk around the BSI CIQ. Additionally, many believe that reopening the “shortcut” would help alleviate traffic congestion in the city center, particularly during peak hours and weekends when ongoing construction for the Rapid Transit System (RTS) is causing further congestion.
In an effort to deter pedestrians, signs have been placed to indicate that the access is closed, and auxiliary and traffic police officers have been stationed in the area to redirect those attempting to use the “shortcut” via the bus lanes into the immigration area. However, the area is equipped with two functioning escalators and is only a few minutes’ walk from the immigration counters. A Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) official stated that pedestrians were previously allowed to use the walkway to enter the building for many years until it was suddenly closed by the Home Ministry after the Covid-19 pandemic.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
