Geylang Market Opens Next Week

Source : The Straits Times, July 7, 2009

THE NEW and upgraded Geylang Serai market will resume business on July 13.

This follows a facelift headed by the National Environment Agency's (NEA) Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme which took 40 months and costs $18.2 million.

The upgraded Geylang Serai Market will repon on 13 July 2009 after a 40-month makeover. -- ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN

The new market is designed to be iconic and simulates the 'rustic quality' of the old kampong houses, said NEA in a statement on Tuesday.

Some of its features include an entrance lobby with an integrated drop-off porch, similar to that of a Malay verandah. Decorative elements such as louvers and timber panels synonymous with features of Malay architecture were integrated in its designs.

Located along Changi Road, the two-storey structure consists of 162 market produce stalls and 34 lock-up stalls on the first storey, and 63 cooked food stalls and 106 lock-up stalls on the second level.

The upgrading also resulted in a more spacious layout, enhanced ventilation and improved fire safety features. For example, all cooked food stalls have been fitted with a new mechanical exhaust system to improve the ventilation of the centre.

The total seating capacity has also been increased by more than 100 per cent to cater to more crowds.

NEA said the new market provides a 'more pleasant and refreshing environment blended with the rustic Malay charms' for marketing and dining needs.

Stallholders are expected to resume business at the hawker centre from July 13 July.

NEA currently manages 109 hawker centres. To date, 74 hawker centres have been upgraded under the upgrading programme.

Some hawker centres that are currently undergoing upgrading include Tekka Centre, Blk 628 Ang Mo Kio Ave 4 and Blk 270 Queen Street.