Almost Half a Million People Expected to be in Marina Bay This New Year’s Eve

By
Isaac Goh
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After what seemed like an eternity, we’re finally allowed to countdown to the new year again. 

This coming New Year, there will be, like all the other years, a firework display at Marina Bay. 

If you’re not a loner and plan to head down there with your friends, you’re in for a rowdy surprise. 

New Year’s Eve Crowd at Marina Bay

An estimated 500,000 people will turn up at the Marina Bay area on 31 December for their New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day celebration. 

That’s right, half a million people will be there.

And you thought you were special for heading to MBS for the gram.

Crowd Control

Because of the mass of people, many officers will be deployed, namely police officers, auxiliary police officers, and security officers. 

Officers from the Special Operations Command, Protective Security Command, Public Transport Security Command, Police Coast Guard, Traffic Police, Emergency Response Teams and Aerial Response Team will also be deployed alongside officers from the land divisions, to conduct enhanced patrols during this period.

To ensure your safety, security personnel may conduct checks on you or your friends. Just don’t have any suspicious items in your pockets or bags and you should be fine.

So, don’t be shocked when the ma ta (police) conduct their checks and please cooperate with them. 

There will be regulation of the number of people entering The Promontory, One Fullerton/Merlion Park, Esplanade Park, Esplanade Waterfront Promenade, Marina Bay Sands Waterfront Promenade, and other areas within the vicinity of Marina Bay. 

If you’re a late bird, you might be denied entry because the areas will be closed after the capacity is hit to ensure the safety of the early birds. 

In that situation, you need not kan cheong (nervous) to find where to go next. Simply check out the Crowd@MarinaBay map that shows the crowd status around Marina Bay. 

Information will be available on 31 December from 6.00 pm to 1.30 am. 

Drones in the Sky

Don’t just look out for the fireworks this year, there are drones too. 

According to Superintendent Ho Li Fang, head of operations at Central Police Division, the police will be leveraging technology in their operations. 

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Get your eyes and cameras ready to spot three types of Singapore Police Force (SPF) drones that will be flown over the water. 

Equipped with thermal and visual sensors, they allow police officers to monitor crowd size, flow, and density. 

In the case of an emergency, sirens and public safety messages will be broadcasted from these drones, which have in-built speakers. 

Along with the drones, SPF’s Enhanced Mobicam will be deployed. They are specialised cameras equipped with a blinker, speakers, and electronic signage. 

This way, officers can broadcast audio and visual messages to the public. 

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MRTs and Common Areas

For those not atas (sophisticated) enough to take Grab and are planning to take the MRT, be warned that these stations would be very crowded: City Hall, Raffles Place and Bayfront. 

Don’t want to be packed like sardines? 

Take the MRT to other stations like Esplanade, Downtown, and Marina Bay, and walk to the Marina Bay area. 

You can take IG shots, but please don’t hog up the people behind you. Footways along the Esplanade Bridge and Bayfront Avenue are to be used for transit only. 

In other words, don’t congregate there. 

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After the Party

Leaving the party is like exiting an aeroplane. Unless you have priority or are lucky, you’d likely be trapped in slow-moving crowds of people inching out one by one. 

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There will be designated routes out of Marina Bay to prevent chaos from breaking out, including area closures. Look out for the signages that are put up to guide you. 

For those taking MRT to and fro, the police will also regulate crowd flow into the train stations. 

Don’t expect it to be fast; please remain patient when exiting. 

Traffic Arrangements

The SPF has advised the public to take public transport to Marina Bay. MRT is best to save money, time, and sanity because parking spaces are expected to be limited. 

If you still insist on bringing your vehicle to the party, do note that the following roads and lanes will be closed: 

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Dec 31, 6 pm to 11 pm

  • Extreme left lane of Raffles Avenue (between Temasek Avenue and Esplanade Drive)
  • Extreme left lane of Collyer Quay in the direction of Raffles Quay

Dec 31, 6 pm to Jan 1, 2 am

  • Bayfront Avenue (between Temasek Avenue and lamp post 34F)
  • Esplanade Drive in the direction of Fullerton Road (between Stamford Road and Collyer Quay)
  • Fullerton Road (between lamp post 18F and Esplanade Drive)

Dec 31, 10 pm to Jan 1, 2 am

  • Marina Boulevard (between Raffles Quay and Bayfront Avenue)

Dec 31, 11 pm to Jan 1, 2 am

  • Republic Boulevard in the direction of Raffles Avenue (between Raffles Boulevard and Raffles Avenue)
  • Slip road leading from Raffles Boulevard into Raffles Avenue
  • Raffles Avenue (between Raffles Boulevard and Temasek Avenue)
  • Temasek Avenue (between Raffles Boulevard and Raffles Avenue)
  • Nicoll Highway (between Raffles Boulevard and Raffles Avenue)
  • Esplanade Drive in the direction of Nicoll Highway (between Stamford Road and Collyer Quay)
  • Fullerton Road (between Esplanade Drive and Collyer Quay)
  • Collyer Quay (between Fullerton Road and Marina Boulevard)
  • Battery Road
  • Flint Street
  • Bonham Street
  • Fullerton Square
  • Extreme left lane of Finlayson Green (between Collyer Quay and Marina Boulevard)
  • Extreme left lane of Marina Way (between Marina Boulevard and Central Boulevard)

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Featured Image: Kiattisak Anoochitarom/ Shutterstock.com

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Isaac Goh
Email: [email protected]