The Tuas Checkpoint will undergo a major revamp from next year, with a raft of measures to enhance security checks of tour buses and passengers.

These include installing imaging scanners for buses, redesigning the layout of the bus concourse and building blast-proof walls. The changes are estimated to cost $9.7 million, and should be completed by November 2017.

The Immigration and Checkpoints Authority (ICA) on Wednesday issued a call for consultants to develop a plan for the project.

An ICA spokesman said yesterday that the changes were part of efforts to “enhance security and operational efficiency”.

… Said security expert Bilveer Singh: “This is part and parcel of the whole gamut of things to strengthen the nation’s security in view of the rising Islamic State threat – the harm could come from people within or without.”