Singapore hawker centers on the rise

Singaporean Environment and Water Resources Minister Vivian Balakrishnan officiated at the groundbreaking ceremony for Bukit Panjang Hawker Centre (open-air street food complex) on Nov 3. With a gross floor area of some 4,500 square meters, it will house 57 stalls when it is completed by the middle of 2015. It is one of 10 new centers that the government will build by 2017.

Making the center accessible to all was another important factor. MP for Bukit Panjang, Dr. Teo Ho Pin, said: "What's important is to make it seamless, barrier-free and elderly-friendly...We have designed 100 car parks in the new hawker center, and also we have recently announced a mechanized parking system, which adds another 60 car park lots to our town center."

The center will be managed by NTUC Foodfare Cooperative, who will be screening potential stall operators to ensure food prices remain affordable. CEO Perry Ong said: "We will not be looking at just strictly at the tender price. Affordability, the selling price, the quality [and] the concept of the stalls will be part of the weightage as well in the selection process."