Drones to help with crowd control at Marina Bay countdown, police will close venues that hit full capacity

In preparation for the countdown festivities at Marina Bay and Kallang, the Singapore Police Force (SPF) will implement crowd control measures.

These include the use of drones, as well as regulating the number of people who can enter each venue to prevent overcrowding, SPF said on Dec. 28.

Here's what you can take note of.

Use of drones

Unmanned aircrafts such as drones will be deployed at the Marina Bay area to help with crowd management.

They'll be able to capture video footage of the crowds, which can then be used to "accurately determine crowd numbers within seconds" using AI.

The police will then use these numbers to make decisions to prevent potential overcrowding incidents, such as closing areas when capacity is reached.

The drones will also be equipped with spotlights, blinkers, and speakers.

This will help improve visibility and allow the police to broadcast public safety messages, SPF said.

Venue closure

Heads up if you're planning on heading downtown to watch the fireworks.

The police will regulate the number of people entering venues such as Merlion Park, Esplanade Park, the Marina Bay Sands Waterfront Promenade, and other areas in the Marina Bay vicinity.

Similar measures will also be implemented around the Kallang area, namely at Stadium Roar and Water Sports Centre.

Once capacity is reached, the areas will be closed to the public to ensure public safety.

Members of the public can check the Crowd@MarinaBay and Crowd@Kallang platforms for real-time information on crowd levels, area closures, and transport options before heading down.

People are also strongly advised not to cycle in the vicinity of Marina Bay and Kallang Basin, as the area will be congested, the police added.

Here's a diagram of the possible areas that might be closed when they reach full capacity:

Public transport

To limit crowd flow, certain entrances and exits of MRT stations around Marina Bay and Kallang will be closed.

Trains may also bypass affected stations — such as Bayfront and Stadium stations — in the event of overcrowding.

Some stations, including City Hall, Raffles Place, Bayfront, Stadium, Tanjong Rhu, and Nicoll Highway, are expected to be very crowded.

Members of the public are encouraged to use nearby alternatives like Esplanade, Promenade, Downtown, Marina Bay, Kallang, and Mountbatten stations.

And if you were hoping to hang out around the footways at Esplanade Bridge, Bayfront Avenue, Merdeka Bridge, and Tanjong Rhu Bridge, you might want to consider someplace else.

These will be open only for transit purposes, and pedestrians will not be allowed to stop and congregate there.

On the bright side, last train and bus timings will also be extended, so you can hang outside a little later.

Road closure

Roads and lanes will be closed to all vehicles at certain periods to facilitate the countdown celebrations.

Here's a map for your reference:

Advisory signs will be put up near affected roads, so do keep a lookout for that.

Motorists are also encouraged to tune in to the radio for the latest traffic updates.

In addition, parking at peripheral roads or stopping along the ECP on the Benjamin Sheares Bridge to watch the fireworks are strictly prohibited.

One carriageway of Sheares Avenue towards Marina Bay Sands will also be temporarily closed from 11:30pm to 12:15am for public safety.

Top image from Annie Spratt/Unsplash and SPF