Crowds And Traffic
Congestion Expected This Qing Ming
News Release - This year’s Qing
Ming falls on Saturday, 4 April 2009. As in past years, a large
number of visitors are anticipated at the Choa Chu Kang Cemetery
and the four government columbaria at Mandai, Yishun, Mount Vernon
and Choa Chu Kang on the actual festival date, the public holiday
(Good Friday) on 10 Apr and five Sundays within the festival period
from 22 March to 19 April 2009.
Keeping the environment
clean and tidy
To help keep the cemetery and
columbaria grounds clean, the National Environment Agency (NEA)
will be providing 990 joss paper metal drums at its cemetery and
columbaria facilities this Qing Ming for the burning of joss paper
by visiting next-of-kin. In addition, 22 concrete pits have also
been constructed at the four columbaria for public
usage.
NEA seeks the cooperation of the
public to only burn their joss offerings in the drums or burners
provided. Burning in the open increases the risk of fire,
particularly in the Choa Chu Kang cemetery, aside from causing
problems of fly ash. The public is also advised to refrain from
leaving behind food offerings at gravesites or niches, as this will
attract rats, crows and other pests.
Visiting hours and traffic
advice
The expected peak hours for
visitations are between 6am and 12 noon on the following days: 4
April 2009 and the Sundays of 22 March, 29 March, 5 April, 10
April, 12 April and 19 April 2009. Members of the public who
wish to avoid the crowd and possible traffic congestion at roads
leading to these premises are therefore advised to avoid the peak
hours or visit the cemetery or columbaria on other days.
The four columbaria will be opened from 6am to 7pm during the peak
days and 7am to 7pm on other
days.
Visitors driving to the cemetery
and columbaria are advised to follow the directional signs and
instructions given by the Police and traffic wardens. They can also
approach our NEA officers who will be stationed on site to provide
help and directions. We also advise drivers to park with
consideration to aid traffic flow. Heavy vehicles are prohibited
from entering the cemetery and columbaria grounds.
Additional car park
lots
Temporary car park lots have been
made available in the vacant land within the Choa Chu Kang Chinese
Cemetery during this Qing Ming period. Visitors are advised to make
use of these car park lots to help reduce traffic congestion within
the cemetery grounds. Drivers who park within the cemetery
grounds are advised to park only along the left hand side of the
cemetery paths. A map showing the location of the additional car
park lots is attached at Annex A.
Grave
maintenance
NEA carries out regular grass
cutting at the CCK Cemetery. The areas covered include the grass in
the common areas of the cemetery.
Weeding and maintenance of carpet
grass and flowering plants on the graves, as well as maintenance of
monuments, are however not provided by NEA.Next-of kin can engage
private contractors to undertake the maintenance at their own
cost.
Visiting Mandai
Crematorium and Columbarium
As cremation services will still
be taking place at the Mandai Crematorium, visitors to the Mandai
Crematorium and Columbarium complex should take special care to
follow the directional signs and instructions given by the Police,
private traffic wardens and the NEA officers on site. Those
attending cremation services will be directed to park their
vehicles at the basement carpark, while visitors to the columbarium
are advised to park their vehicles only at the various open car
parks around the complex
~~ End ~~
For more information, please
contact
Call Centre: 1800-CALL NEA
(1800-2255 632)
Email: [email protected]