Some 98 stallholders from Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre will relocate to the Bukit Timah Interim Hawker Centre and Market by the end of September 2024. The interim site, situated near the junction of Jalan Jurong Kechil and Jalan Seh Chuan, will commence operations on 1 October 2024. This move follows the People’s Association’s (PA) announcement in December 2023 that the two-storey Bukit Timah hawker centre will be demolished in the second half of 2024 to make way for the Bukit Timah Integrated Development (BTID).
Background
The BTID will be developed on the current food centre site, the adjacent open-air car park, and the vacant land next to the Esso petrol station. This new development aims to connect Beauty World MRT station with several community amenities, including an expanded Bukit Timah Community Club, an enhanced Bukit Timah food centre and market, and a new indoor sports hall for Pei Hwa Presbyterian Primary School. The integrated development is expected to be completed in the second half of 2029.
Interim market & hawker centre to get expanded car park
On 14 September, stallholders gathered for a group photo before the centre’s redevelopment. During this session, Member of Parliament (MP) for Holland-Bukit Timah Group Representation Constituency (GRC) Sim Ann announced that the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA) had agreed to expand the car park next to the interim site in 2025. This expansion aims to address the hawkers’ concerns about parking availability for their customers. Sim, who is also the Senior Minister of State at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of National Development, shared this update in a Facebook post on 15 September.
Future implications
The relocation and subsequent redevelopment of Bukit Timah Market and Food Centre mark a significant change for the community. The new integrated development promises to enhance the area’s infrastructure and amenities, potentially boosting local business and community engagement. However, the transition period may pose challenges for the stallholders and their customers, particularly concerning accessibility and convenience. The expanded car park at the interim site is a step towards mitigating these issues, ensuring that the hawkers can continue to serve their loyal patrons without significant disruption.
