As the paid areas for Downtown line platforms were initially not connected at this station, commuters would be charged if they tapped out of the station platform if they entered the wrong platform.
Passengers would need to travel to either Botanic Gardens or Newton to change direction as the two platforms are connected within each other.

After public concerns, the Land Transport Authority announced on 31 December 2015, on the fifth day of the free travel that there would be a 10-minute grace period for commuters to tap out and tap in again and not be charged if they entered the wrong platform starting from 2 January 2016, when fares are charged.
This was the only MRT station in Singapore that commuters were not charged for entering and exiting at the same station gantries.


With the opening of the new underpass to Exits B and C on 23 November 2019, the paid areas of both platforms are finally connected and the grace period has been removed.
As the paid areas for Downtown line platforms were initially not connected at this station, commuters would be charged if they tapped out of the station platform if they entered the wrong platform. Passengers would need to travel to either Botanic Gardens or Newton to change direction as the two platforms are connected within each other.
After public concerns, the Land Transport Authority announced on 31 December 2015, on the fifth day of the free travel that there would be a 10-minute grace period for commuters to tap out and tap in again and not be charged if they entered the wrong platform starting from 2 January 2016, when fares are charged. This was the only MRT station in Singapore that commuters were not charged for entering and exiting at the same station gantries.

With the opening of the new underpass to Exits B and C on 23 November 2019, the paid areas of both platforms are finally connected and the grace period has been removed.
Stevens MRT station