To adhere to ongoing COVID-19 Safe Management Measures, visitors are advised to limit group size, and visit during less crowded weekdays (extended opening to 24 hours).

Visitors driving to Choa Chu Kang and Mandai Columbaria are to use the e-appointment booking system. Only vehicles with valid e-appointments are allowed to enter and park.

Singapore, 2 March 2022 – The Qing Ming festival will take place on 5 April 2022, with the visiting period expected to last from 26 March to 17 April 2022. In view of the COVID-19 situation and prevailing Safe Management Measures, the National Environment Agency (NEA) is putting in place crowd control measures, and reminds members of the public to exercise socially responsible behaviour to protect our well-being and that of our families and relatives. Those feeling unwell or are sick should stay at home, see a doctor, and avoid visiting. As crowds are expected at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery, Garden of Peace (Inland Ash Scattering facility) and government-managed columbaria during the Qing Ming period, visitors are requested to:

• Limit group size visiting to prevailing social group size;
• Avoid bringing along elderly family members and young children;
• Not eat, or prolong their stay at facilities;
• Not bring pets;
• Avoid crowding at niche room, around prayer and joss paper burning areas at columbaria;
• Wear a mask properly at all times;
• Practise COVID-19 Safe Management Measures; and
• Carpool and register their vehicles if they intend to drive and park at Choa Chu Kang Columbarium and/or Mandai Columbarium during Qing Ming period.

2          To cater for the anticipated increase in visitors during the annual Qing Ming period, NEA will extend the opening hours for government-managed columbaria (Choa Chu Kang Columbarium, Mandai Columbarium, and Yishun Columbarium) to 24 hours daily, with effect from 26 March until 17 April 2022.

3          The Garden of Peace will be closed to visitors at weekends and on public holidays during the Qing Ming period, to give privacy to those who have booked slots for scattering of ashes. Only applicants with an approved booking for inland ash scattering will be allowed access into the Garden of Peace.

4          Safe Distancing Ambassadors will be deployed for better crowd control, and traffic management arrangements will be put in place to help ease expected congestion. Visitors are reminded not to give red packets to staff working at and within government columbaria and cemetery. Refer to Annex A for how to stay safe during visits for Qing Ming.

Traffic Management at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery and Government-managed Columbaria

5          Large crowds are expected at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery and government-managed columbaria at Mandai, Yishun and Choa Chu Kang, during the Qing Ming festival (Tuesday, 5 April 2022); Good Friday (Friday, 15 April 2022); and at weekends within the period from 26 March to 17 April 2022. Members of the public who wish to avoid queues, crowds, and traffic congestion are encouraged to avoid visiting during these periods.

E-Appointment Booking System for those Driving to Choa Chu Kang Columbarium and/or Mandai Columbarium during Qing Ming period

6          Crowds at both Choa Chu Kang Columbarium and Mandai Columbarium are expected to be larger this year, given the higher niche occupancy. To improve traffic flow within Choa Chu Kang and Mandai Columbaria, and following the successful implementation at Mandai Columbarium last year, NEA will implement an e-appointment booking system for visitors driving to Choa Chu Kang Columbarium and Mandai Columbarium during the Qing Ming period, applicable between 6.00am and 4.00pm on selected dates:

For Choa Chu Kang Columbarium, on weekends, Qing Ming festival and Good Friday:
-  March 2022:    26, 27
-  April 2022:       2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17

For Mandai Columbarium:
-  Daily from 26 March to 17 April 2022

7          Key details are as follow:

• For visitors taking public transport, appointment bookings are not required.
• For visitors driving to Choa Chu Kang Columbarium and Mandai Columbarium during the Qing Ming period, only vehicles registered with valid e-appointments will be allowed to enter and park at the premises during the specified period. 
• Non-registered vehicles intending to drop off passengers may use the designated drop-off/pick-up points

o   i) near the pedestrian gate along Mandai Avenue (for Mandai Columbarium) and;
o   ii) at Carpark C, Amenities Block (for Choa Chu Kang Columbarium).

• Vehicles arriving outside the appointment time may be denied entry for parking. As traffic wardens will be deployed to regulate traffic flow and vehicle access into the columbaria, visitors with valid vehicle appointments will be required to show the confirmation email or SMS upon entry.

• Appointment slots will be released two weeks before the peak visiting days, starting on Saturday 12 March 2022, at 10.00am. Booking time slots are from 6.00am to 4.00pm, in 2-hour intervals. Visitors who wish to drive or carpool to Choa Chu Kang Columbarium and/or Mandai Columbarium are advised to book an appointment early at https://go.gov.sg/qm2022vehicleappt

•  Appointment booking is not required for visits outside the dates indicated in paragraph 6.

Real-time Traffic Conditions

8          Information on real-time traffic conditions outside Mandai Columbarium and Choa Chu Kang Columbarium are available at https://www.nea.gov.sg/qingming2022.

Shuttle Bus Service and Designated Drop-off/Pick-up Points for Taxis and Private Hire Vehicles

9          To minimise traffic congestion, visitors are advised to take the shuttle buses provided during peak visiting days, or utilise public transport services listed in Annex B. Designated drop-off/pick-up points will be set up at Mandai Columbarium and Choa Chu Kang Columbarium, to facilitate visitors taking taxis and private hire vehicles. Drivers are advised to follow directional signs and instructions given by the Traffic Police and traffic wardens.

Choa Chu Kang Cemetery and Columbarium Complex

10        Long queues are expected at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery and Columbarium Complex during peak visiting days. To facilitate visits to Choa Chu Kang Cemetery and Columbarium, a shuttle bus service will be provided at a fee of $1.00 per trip, between the Claims & Registration Office (2 Christian Cemetery Path 2) and Choa Chu Kang Columbarium (51 Chinese Cemetery Path 4), at 15-minute intervals from 7.00am to 5.00pm, during weekends from 26 March to 17 April 2022, on Qing Ming Day and Good Friday, on these dates:

- March 2022:    26, 27
-  April 2022:       2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17

11        Drivers who wish to use the shuttle bus service may park along the left-hand side of the Christian Cemetery paths (without causing obstruction to other users), Car Park A along Jalan Bahar, and Car Park B along Old Choa Chu Kang Road. Location of the Choa Chu Kang Chinese Cemetery site is shown in Map 1.

12        Vehicles exceeding 2,500kg unladen weight are not allowed into Choa Chu Kang Cemetery and Columbarium Complex during peak periods.

Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex

13     Due to ongoing construction works for the development of a new crematorium complex, there are closures of some roads and open-air car parks near Mandai Columbarium Blocks B and C. To complement existing public bus services, a shuttle bus service will be provided at a fee of $1.00 per trip, between Khatib MRT Station (Exit A pick-up point) and the rear entrance of Mandai Columbarium along Mandai Avenue, at 15-min intervals from 7.00am to 5.00pm, during weekends from 26 March to 17 April 2022, on Qing Ming Day and Good Friday, on these dates:

- March 2022:    26, 27
- April 2022:       2, 3, 5, 9, 10, 15, 16, 17

14     Drivers to Mandai Columbarium are encouraged to park their vehicles near Khatib MRT station, and to use the shuttle bus service (pick-up point at Khatib MRT station Exit A). We seek visitors’ understanding that during this period, the limited parking lots at Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium Complex will only be available to those with valid e-appointments or those attending cremation services with valid entry passes. Location of the Mandai Crematorium and Columbarium site is shown in Map 2.

Use of Burners and Containers to keep the Environment Clean and Reduce Fire Risk

15        Members of the public are advised to use burners and containers for burning of joss paper, to minimise fly ash and to keep the environment clean. Members of the public are also encouraged to burn joss paper in small quantities to minimise smoke emission and avoid creating fire hazards, such as leaving lit candles and matches unattended, in view of the ongoing warm and dry weather. Burners will be available at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery and government columbaria at Mandai, Yishun and Choa Chu Kang. At public housing estates, local Town Councils will be providing burners and containers for residents’ use.

16        Members of the public are additionally reminded not to leave behind any food offerings or litter after visiting, to keep public areas clean, and prevent any mosquito breeding and rat infestation.

Engaging Third-party Grave Maintenance Services

17        NEA provides regular grass-cutting maintenance for common areas of Choa Chu Kang Cemetery. This does not include grass maintenance at individual graves and their monuments.

18        Members of the public may be approached by persons at Choa Chu Kang Cemetery for payment of grave maintenance service fees. These services are not regulated or endorsed by NEA. Next-of-kin who have not made prior private arrangements for such services are advised not to pay anyone who claims to have maintained the graves of their loved ones.

19         NEA has reminded third-party grave maintenance service providers not to engage in any illegal activities, such as touting, extortion, harassment, and cheating. Members of the public may lodge a police report should they encounter any such incident. Alternatively, they can contact NEA’s hotline at 6225 5632. 

Exercising Care

20        Visitors are strongly advised to exercise care and caution, by donning protective footwear and watching out for potholes, cracks, uneven or rough surfaces on pathways or terrain, when navigating or walking within the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery compound.

21        Due to high traffic expected at NEA facilities, pedestrians are reminded to exercise caution at all times, and to look after their personal safety and that of other road users when crossing roads. Drivers are also advised to stay alert and pay attention to their surroundings when driving.

22        Office opening hours and useful contact numbers are available in Annex C.

~~ End ~~

For more information, please submit your enquiries electronically via the Online Feedback Form or myENV mobile application. Alternatively, you contact us at 6225 5632.

ANNEX A

MAP 1

Location Map of Choa Chu Kang Chinese Cemetery

MAP 2

Location Map of Mandai Crematorium/Columbarium

ANNEX B

How To Get There – Public Transport Services

Bus services by public transport operators are listed below:

*Available during Qing Ming period on the dates indicated below:

• 26 & 27 March 2022           (Saturday & Sunday)
• 2 & 3 April 2022                  (Saturday & Sunday)
• 5 April 2022                        (Qing Ming Day)
• 9 & 10 April 2022                (Saturday & Sunday)
• 15, 16 & 17 April 2022       (Good Friday, Saturday & Sunday)

ANNEX C

Useful Contact Numbers & Office Opening Hours