As the name implies, the fully-underground North East line connects Central Singapore to the north-eastern parts of the island, serving a total of 16 stations. Beginning at HarbourFront station, the line goes in a northeast direction, paralleling the New Bridge Road and Eu Tong Street in Chinatown between Outram Park and Clarke Quay stations. Passing underneath the Singapore River and Fort Canning Hill to Dhoby Ghaut station, then it continues to Little India station parallel to Selegie Road. The line continues to follow the route of Race Course Road and Serangoon Road through Little India and Boon Keng. Between Potong Pasir and Kovan stations, it parallels Upper Serangoon Road, then it curves north to Hougang station. The line then runs below Hougang Avenue 6 and Sengkang Central to Sengkang station in Sengkang and further extends to Punggol station in Punggol, where it currently terminates. The NEL will continue to curve towards Punggol Coast MRT station in 2023.