Singapore Buses route 983

Service 983 is a trunk service plying from Choa Chu Kang Interchange and looping at Keat Hong Close, passing through Choa Chu Kang Avenues 3 and 5. It was launched on 25 April 2015 with the introduction of feeder service 301 and amendment to service 300, and is the 40th bus service to be introduced under the Bus Services Enhancement Programme. The revised launch date (originally 15 Feb 2015) was in response to feedback by residents of Choa Chu Kang. The current Service 983 benefits residents of newly-built residential developments in the area, namely the HDB Bulit-to-Order (BTO) developments of Sunshine Gardens, Keat Hong Crest, Keat Hong Pride, Keat Hong Axis and Keat Hong Colors.

Postponed Service Launch
Originally intended to be launched on 15 Feb 2015 as the thirty-eighth (38th) BSEP-introduced bus service, negative feedback from Choa Chu Kang residents led to the postponing of the launch along with the accompanying Service 301 introduction and Service 300 amendment to 25 Apr 2015. The route was not amended, but a pair of bus stops along Keat Hong Close had been removed as new housing developments in the area are still under construction, and the route will potentially no longer serve Keat Hong Close once the service is extended to Bukit Panjang.

Fleet
Service 983 also made special arrangements for the bendy bus to be deployed (TIB1117Z, later became SMB388S, one of the first MAN NG363F to be deployed) in 2015.

Free Familiarisation Ride
SMRT organized a free familiarization ride for the new Service 983 on Sunday, 19th April 2015, a weekend before the launch date. Three trips were operated, departing Choa Chu Kang Interchange (Berth 5) at 2:00pm, 3:00pm and 4:00pm. The trip plied the full route of Service 983 without making any enroute stops.

Enhancement to service 983
From 27 December 2015, as part of the DTL2 Bukit Panjang Service Enhancements, Service 983 will be extended to loop at Bukit Panjang.

The route amendment brought improved connectivity to new housing estates at Choa Chu Kang by connecting them to the transport node of Bukit Panjang, with additional bus and rail connections available as part of the DTL2 Bukit Panjang Service Enhancements.

The route extension is the fifty-fourth (54th) route amendment / new route under BSEP.

History

 * 3 January 2016: Calls at a bus stop at the APSN (Choa Chu Kang Grove).
 * 24 April 2016: Starts calling at an additional pair of bus stops along Choa Chu Kang Avenue 7 (Block 810 CP)