About two years ago, hawker Willie Goh saw water gush out from a clogged drain in his cooked-food stall at Tekka Market and Food Centre.
The 58-year-old, who operates his family business at Zhu Jiao Shu Shi, is relieved the issue with the drainage system was dealt with during the last three months of repairs and redecoration work at Tekka.
The works, which began on July 3, have been completed for the cooked food and wet market stalls on the ground floor – save for minor touch-ups – ahead of the resumption of operations on Sunday.
On Saturday, MP for Tanjong Pagar GRC Alvin Tan, who is Minister of State for Trade and Industry, and Culture, Community and Youth, was at the market and food centre for a reopening ceremony.
Among the other changes are new flooring, fresh paint, new tables and chairs, upgraded toilets and a new smoking point.
Mr Mohmed Nejamdeen, 62, who runs Prata Saga Sambal Berlada, said the faulty drainage system was a major issue that plagued stall operators for the last two or three years, and was often raised with the Tanjong Pagar Town Council.
Though repairs were done, the problem would resurface. Now that the pipes have been replaced, Mr Nejamdeen said he was glad that the issue had been sorted out. “The best thing for us is the change to the drainage system because that was an issue we were facing for quite a while.”
Mr Nejamdeen, who took the opportunity in the last three months to travel to India and Malaysia, is looking forward to returning to resume his business. “The changes have enhanced the market and will bring in better business for us,” he said.
Mr Antony Raj, 43, a tailor on the first floorsecond storey, where renovations were completed on Aug 31, is happy with improvements to the centre’s ventilation.
“The fans were smaller, and it would get very hot. It is more comfortable now with the new and bigger fans,” he said in Tamil.
The owner of seafood stall Lee Yit Huat Trading, who wanted to be known only as Mr Lee, said he hopes there will no longer be a problem with birds.
“Many would come in to look for food and there would be a lot of droppings. Now there is a netting, I hope this will make things better,” said the 60-year-old.
Mr Lee moved his business to the market in Toa Payoh Lorong 4 during the three months that Tekka was closed.
In response to ST’s queries, a Tanjong Pagar Town Council spokesman said the 216 market stalls, 119 hawker stalls and 68 lock-up stalls at Tekka were at full occupancy three months ago. At present, occupancy is at 96 per cent.
Rents were waived while the works were carried out, and the National Environment Agency said earlier that there would be no rental increase because of the works.
Mr Tan said that among the feedback from residents and hawkers was a wish for Tekka to be a clean space. “Our town council, cleaners and hawker association are doing what they can to keep this place clean. But we need everybody to play their part, so that a fresh, new Tekka Centre will remain clean, fresh and welcoming for residents and visitors.”
The Straits Times
