RTS Link aims to fast track immigration clearance in a matter of seconds

The Johor Bahru-Singapore Rapid Transit System (RTS) Link service is set to revolutionize immigration clearance, reportedly completing the procedure in mere seconds upon full operation early next year. MRT Corp's RTS Link project director Zulkifli Mohamed revealed that the Bukit Chagar Integrated Immigration, Customs and Quarantine (ICQ) Complex will accommodate 100 e-gate lanes to streamline these processes.

Passengers will bypass queues by moving through body scanners before reaching the e-gate lanes. To prevent overcrowding, especially during peak hours, the e-gate lanes are designed to accept both QR codes and passports for swift clearance. Zulkifli further explained that if body scanners detect contraband, duty officers will promptly direct the travelers to a secondary counter, thereby maintaining the flow of the majority of passengers.

The RTS Link, connecting Bukit Chagar station in Johor Bahru to Woodlands North station in Singapore, is anticipated to take approximately five minutes. The Bukit Chagar ICQ complex will be equipped with 10 security screening lanes, 18 baggage scanners, and a dedicated lane for passengers without luggage. The complex will serve the Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) and Malaysian Quarantine and Inspection Services (MAQIS) for enforcement purposes.

In addition to immigration services, the ICQ complex will also provide useful amenities like a nursing room, surau, and self-service ticket kiosks. The four-kilometre RTS Link, capable of transporting 10,000 passengers per hour in each direction, is expected to serve around 40,000 commuters daily once it opens in January next year. Currently, approximately 350,000 Malaysians traverse the Johor Causeway for work daily, making it one of the busiest border crossings globally.