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Pasir Ris Bus Interchange is half the place it used to be as demolition and reconstruction work have already began on the western wing since July 3, 2021.

On that same day, the eastern wing, spruced up with modern accoutrements and facilities, reopened as the new reconfigured Pasir Ris Bus Interchange.

Old school charm will be lost

To ensure remnants of the old school Pasir Ris Bus Interchange -- a space that many public transport commuters have utilised and become used to for three decades -- exist in the future, a photographer, Tan Yong Lin, has captured shots that best showcase how the transport node has become firmly embedded in the lives of many northeasterners, National Service boys, and anyone who pays Pasir Ris a visit.

How people remember it

With redevelopment plans laid out, the old school charm of the simple, stripped down Pasir Ris Bus Interchange will soon be lost to time.

As seen in the images, they capture how people have come to remember the interchange.

Not only will our future selves recall the hustle and bustle of a busy public transport hub, they will have their memories jolted by the surrounding spaces, such as the open green field that has come to be associated with the bus park, as well as how people use the space organically for relaxing or catching a breather.

Unique multicultural design

Besides its sprawling "C" shape layout, the design of Pasir Ris Bus Interchange is unlike others in Singapore.

According to Land Transport Guru, it features oriental-styled roof trusses that are anchored at the ends by two pavilions designed with Chinese, Indian and Malay motifs.

Each of the seven original berths -- two alighting and five boarding berths -- also featured smaller pavilions at the edge of the bus park with similar motifs.

Two of these berths that flanked Pasir Ris MRT station -- berths B4 and B6 -- were built taller than the others.

For each boarding berth, the sheltered queue line extends from the concourse to the edge of the bus park.

The Pasir Ris Bus Interchange has been an open air venue since it was opened in Dec. 10, 1989, six days before Pasir Ris MRT station opened.

As memories of Singapore in the past are harder to come by owing to the limited photographic and videographic tools available, documenting the present, in comparison, has become an exercise in egalitarianism as documentary is no longer the purview of professionals.

Western wing to make way for redevelopment

The western half of the interchange was earmarked to be torn down to facilitate the construction of the Pasir Ris Integrated Transport Hub (ITH) to be completed around 2028.

An ITH is a fully air-conditioned bus interchange that is linked to MRT stations and commercial developments, such as shopping malls.

Among the new amenities added at the reconfigured bus interchange are a new concourse area for 23 new berth lots, as well as a dedicated pick-up/ drop-off point for MINDEF shuttle buses, which have reshaped the entire space, despite providing modern conveniences for commuters.

The western wing will also be making way for a rail turnback, which is slated to be completed in 2024.

A turnback is a section of track where the train driver can stop, swap ends of the train, and "turn back" the way they came.

The reconfigured interchange will include a new section along Pasir Ris Central.

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Top photos via Tan Tong Lin