LTA will embark on a programme to build more integrated public transport hubs where air-conditioned bus interchanges and rail stations are co-located with retail and commercial activities. Such integrated transport hubs will allow transfers to be done comfortably and provide added convenience as commuters can do some shopping before transferring to their connecting bus or train.

At present, there are four bus interchanges - Toa Payoh, Sengkang, Ang Mo Kio and Boon Lay - which are fully integrated with the rail stations and adjoining commercial developments. Two more integrated bus interchanges at Serangoon and Clementi are under construction and will be completed by 2011. Over the next 10 years, another four integrated interchanges at Bedok, Jurong East, Joo Koon and Marina South will be built in tandem with re-development in the respective areas, to better integrate our transport hubs with the surrounding facilities.

As we develop more integrated transport hubs, we will also look into introducing more retail spaces to inject more buzz into these transport nodes. We want to transform these places into lifestyle hubs, making them fun and exciting places and accessible meeting points among friends and family. Besides bus interchanges, such lifestyle hubs can also be found at rail stations such as Raffles Xchange at Raffles Place MRT station and Tanjong Pagar MRT station.