SINGAPORE: Over the next three years, Bedok Town
Centre will be rejuvenated and transformed into an exciting
hub.
Minister of State for National Development and an MP
for East Coast GRC, Lee Yi Shyan, said proposals to revitalise the
heartlands are being realised, starting with the Bedok Town
Centre.
He added that key developments are already on
track.
On Sunday, both Mr Lee and Minister in the Prime Minister's Office
and another MP for the GRC, Lim Swee Say, officiated at the
groundbreaking ceremony for a new hawker centre, multi-storey car
park and town plaza.
The new hawker centre and multi-storey car park will be completed
in May 2014.
The plaza and a heritage corner will then be built on the site of
the existing hawker centre.
Mr Lee said the plaza to be completed in mid-2015 will serve as an
ideal gathering place for residents in Bedok.
Mr Lee said nearly 70 percent of the stalls in the current hawker
centre have changed hands several times. The remaining 30 percent
have been operating as the original stallholders.
"We are taking care of this 30 percent," he said, adding that they
would be given "priority allocation and certain kinds of
convenience for the first few years" when they move to the new
hawker centre.
"But of course the rentals will still be (based on) market price.
It is important to keep it that way because the phenomenon will
repeat itself in the sense that if you charge very low (rentals),
they will sublet to other people and just make money by subletting
and not providing food operations, and this, we've seen in other
hawker centres," said Mr Lee.
"So we have to take steps to make sure that the prices will be
competitive. My main goal is to make sure that Bedok centre will
continue to be a good hawker centre, providing affordable and great
food."
Mr Lee also assured residents that measures will be taken to
minimise inconveniences during the construction period.
He said: "As we transform Bedok Town Centre into a vibrant new hub,
some of you may be concerned with the possible
inconveniences.
"We seek your understanding and patience on these short-term
inconveniences, so that we can all reap the longer term benefits of
a revitalised Bedok Town Centre.
"We assure you that we will take all measures to minimise
disturbances to you during the construction stage, wherever
possible.
"For example, we have arranged an interim surface car park in front
of Block 23 New Upper Changi Road for motorists to park their
vehicles.
"For pedestrians, we have provided an interim sheltered walkway
from the bus-stop at Bedok Town Centre to the hawker centre at
Block 207, with signages installed to guide your way around.
"Noise and dust mitigating measures will also be put in place
during the construction period."
In January last year, the HDB announced that the East Coast area
will be included in the government's S$1 billion plan for the
second batch of towns to be improved under the Remaking Our
Heartland programme, or ROH, with Bedok as a "Gateway to the East
Coast".
- CNA/ir