The deployment of QRT has helped reduce congestion and waiting time for travellers to and from Singapore on the Johor Causeway, especially during peak hours.

Immigration director-general Khairul Dzaimee Daud said 71 QRT officers had so far been stationed at the Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) Complex here, and at the Sultan Abu Bakar Complex (KSAB) in Iskandar Puteri.

Prior to the deployment of QRT, about 1,400 vehicles were able to pass through immigration checks and have their documentation verified in one hour.

“After the QRT was created, we managed to process up to 2,300 vehicles within one hour, provided that the motorists do not have any issues and have sufficient Touch ‘n Go balance,” Bernama reported him as saying in Johor Bahru today.

As for bus passengers, Khairul said previously, the department took about four to five hours to clear the exit and entry counters, which have a capacity of holding 3,200 people at any one time.

“After the QRT was established, it took us about three hours to complete the immigration process for all 3,200 passengers. They only had to wait 12 to 15 minutes,” he said.

Following the successful implementation of the initiative, Khairul said they would station QRT members at border checkpoints in Bukit Kayu Hitam (Kedah) and Sungai Tujuh (Sarawak) by the end of this month.

On Jan 20, the government had announced several short-term initiatives to help reduce congestion at the country’s entry points, especially at the Johor Causeway.