Geylang Bahru

Geylang Bahru
Subzone of Kallang
Other transcription(s)
  Chinese 芽笼巴鲁
芽笼峇鲁
  Pinyin Yálóng Bālǔ
  Malay Geylang Baru
  Tamil கேலாங் பாரு
Country  Singapore
Region Central Region
Planning Area Kallang
Area[1]
  Total 0.74 km2 (0.29 sq mi)
Population (2015)[1]
  Total 12,870
  Density 17,000/km2 (45,000/sq mi)

Geylang Bahru (Chinese: 芽笼巴鲁, Tamil: கேலாங் பாரு) is a subzone located in the town of Kallang in the Central Region of Singapore.[2] The area is also well known as Kolam Ayer based on its regional history.

Once completed, the future Geylang Bahru MRT Station will serve the precinct.

Etymology

The name “Kolam Ayer”, was derived from the Malay phrase "kolam air", which means "water pond" in English.

History

Before the development of Kallang, Kolam Ayer (as it was known at the time) had many Malay kampongs located within its vicinity. The precinct was mainly served by Jalan Kolam Ayer before the 1960s, which eventually merged to form part of the present-day Pan Island Expressway.

During the dredging of the Kallang River in the late 1960s and early 1970s,[3] the Singapore government filled and leveled up the surrounding river side with red mud that was carried by lorries from a nearby hill called Ang Chiang San (now present-day Toa Payoh). These areas formed what are today Bendemeer, Kallang Bahru and the old Geylang Bahru estate.[4]

Kolam Ayer
Chinese name
Simplified Chinese
Malay name
Malay Kolam Ayer
Tamil name
Tamil கோலம் ஆயெர்

Since then, the precinct was connected with the Kolam Ayer Community Club and the People's Action Party Kolam Ayer Branch.[5]

After the 1980s, the Jalan Besar Town Council relocated its office in Kallang Bahru. It was later renamed Moulmein-Kallang between 2011-2015 after the redrawing of GRC boundaries.[6] The old name was then restored following the 2015 general elections.

In April 2008, the Kolam Ayer ABC Waterfront was officially opened to the public as the first project under the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme handled by Public Utilities Board.[7][8]

Today, residents of Geylang Bahru are managed by the People's Association under the Kolam Ayer Geylang Bahru Residents Committee.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 City Population - statistics, maps and charts | Geylang Bahru
  2. The "2014 Master Plan" (PDF). by the Urban Redevelopment Authority, which is cited as a reference source in the Population Trends 2015 report by the Department of Statistics Singapore
  3. The history of the "Kallang River". by the National Heritage Board
  4. Tan Khoon Yong (Chinese: 陈军荣) (2001). "二:五龙汇星洲之【南龙】". 新加坡地形风水:五龙汇星洲 (in Chinese) (Reprint ed.). Singapore: Times Books International. p. 207. ISBN 981232061X.
  5. The "Kolam Ayer Community". page (SNS) published by Dr. Yaacob and his team
  6. The "Jalan Besar Town Concil". official website
  7. The "Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters". (ABC Waters) main page by the Public Utilities Board
  8. The "Kolam Ayer ABC Waterfront". introduction with a map by the Public Utilities Board
  9. "Location of Kolam Ayer Geylang Bahru". People's Association. 3 September 2015. Retrieved 16 June 2016.

Media related to Kallang Planning Area at Wikimedia Commons

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