[10] Contract 103 for the construction of San Teng MRT station and 3.2-kilometre (2.0-mile) of tunnels between San Teng and Braddell stations was awarded to a Belgian-Singaporean joint venture Hytech, Franki and Compagnie Francois d'Enterprises in December 1983 at a contract sum of S$32.88 million (US$15.56 million).

A new, air-conditioned platform to serve southbound trains to Marina South Pier was constructed to increase the station's passenger capacity from 1,250 to 2,020.

These barriers are insulated with noise-absorptive materials such as rock wool, which helped reduce noise volume by about five decibels.

[34] On 7 October 2017, during heavy rain in the afternoon, water entered a section of tunnel between Bishan and Braddell MRT stations, disrupting NSL train services from Ang Mo Kio station to Marina South Pier for several hours.

After the Singapore Civil Defence Force (SCDF) worked overnight to clear the water in the tunnels,[35] train services between Newton and Ang Mo Kio stations resumed at 1.36 pm the following day.

[37] Through investigations by the Land Transport Authority (LTA), it was discovered the overflowing in the tunnel was caused by a malfunction in the poorly maintained water pumping system, which was repaired.

[38][39] On 20 July 2018, the Land Transport Authority fined the operator a combined S$1.9 million (US$1.41 million) for this incident, in addition to the Pasir Ris rail accident,[40][41] and subsequently sacked eight workers involved in the incident due to their negligence by falsifying maintenance records and not maintaining the pumps.

The paid area has a layered ceiling and design elements made of glass, giving it a spacious atmosphere.

by Soh Ee Shaun is displayed at the CCL station as part of the network's Art-in-Transit programme.

The artwork consists of three murals – "The Family", "The Scientist" and "The Heartland" – each of which is made of 16 glass panels, all cast in film.

[55][57] "The Family", a 3-by-8.7-metre (9.8 by 28.5 ft) mural mainly in yellow and black, depicts ordinary activities that are part of Singapore's "air-conditioned" lifestyle.

"The Heartland", on a 2.9-by-8.2-metre (9.5 by 26.9 ft) panel, represents the neighbourhood of Bishan with the area's notable landmarks against a pink backdrop.

[58] The youngest to be commissioned for an Art-in-Transit artwork on the CCL, Soh initially planned to create an abstract work of people moving around to reflect the bustle of a train station.

However, it was thought to be "too literal" and the Art-in-Transit curator Karen Lim, urged Soh to incorporate thematic stories.

[59] Bishan CCL station includes two sets of Art Seats, which are designed to provide functional pieces of artwork.

[60] Two entries, both by Lui Honfay and Yasmine Chan, were selected through the International Art Seats Design Competition in 2006.

[64][65] Due to it being located on the former burial site of the Peck San Theng, Bishan station is rumoured to be haunted.

Tales of headless figures alighting and boarding at the station are locally well-known; one version mentions a ghost sitting in the last car with its severed head on the adjacent seat.

Such tales likely originated from the Kwong Wai Siew Peck San Theng columbarium, which now houses 45,000 urns, according to Singapore Paranormal Investigators (SPI).

[68] In April 2005, The Straits Times investigated and debunked several accounts of ghosts at Bishan station.

The operator added the train could have bypassed the station when it failed to stop "due to a technical fault".