Electronic Road Pricing (ERP) charges will return to the Orchard area on weekdays from Sep. 7, 2026, as Singapore authorities respond to persistent traffic congestion and slower-than-optimal road speeds in the popular shopping district.
The Land Transport Authority (LTA) announced the move on Aug. 31, saying it has been monitoring traffic conditions around Orchard and has observed congestion remaining an issue for an extended period. ERP operations in the area had previously been suspended, but traffic conditions have prompted the authority to reinstate the charges.
Motorists travelling through the Orchard Cordon will be charged S$1 between 11am and 7pm on weekdays. The measure is intended to manage traffic demand and encourage motorists to consider alternative routes or adjust their travel times where possible.
ERP charges across 11 Orchard locations
The Orchard Cordon covers 11 ERP locations around the central shopping district. These include Buyong Road, Cairnhill Road, Clemenceau Avenue, Killiney Road and Kramat Road.
Other locations covered by the ERP system are Orchard Link, Orchard Road, Orchard Turn, Oxley Road, YMCA and the Fort Canning Tunnel.
The S$1 ERP charge will apply during the stated operating period, meaning drivers entering the affected areas on weekdays between 11am and 7pm should factor the additional road pricing cost into their journeys.
LTA said it would continue monitoring traffic conditions after the ERP system resumes. The authority’s decision comes as congestion within Orchard has remained a concern, particularly during periods when traffic speeds fall below what is considered optimal for the area.
Saturday ERP operations could return
While weekday ERP operations will resume from Sep. 7, the authorities have not immediately reinstated charges on Saturdays.
LTA said traffic speeds in Orchard on Saturdays have also remained below optimal levels since October 2025. The authority will therefore continue assessing the situation and determine whether ERP operations should be brought back on Saturdays in the next quarter.
The decision could affect motorists heading into Orchard for weekend shopping, dining and leisure activities if Saturday ERP operations are eventually reinstated.
LTA is also keeping an eye on congestion along the Central Expressway (CTE), where heavy traffic has been observed on weekday mornings for longer periods than previously seen.
In particular, the CTE in the direction of the Ayer Rajah Expressway before the Braddell Road area has recorded persistently slower traffic speeds.
LTA may extend ERP hours if congestion worsens
The resumption of ERP charges in Orchard is part of wider efforts to manage congestion on Singapore’s roads. If traffic conditions do not improve, LTA said it may consider extending the hours during which ERP charges operate.
For motorists, this could mean that travel costs and journey times may change if congestion remains persistent across the affected roads.
Drivers heading towards Orchard are therefore encouraged to plan their journeys in advance and consider alternative routes, particularly during periods of heavier traffic.
The ERP system is designed to manage road demand by encouraging motorists to consider different travel times, routes or modes of transport when roads become congested. The latest changes will be monitored by LTA as it assesses traffic conditions in Orchard and other affected parts of central Singapore.