DEPOT ROAD MARKET STALLS

Mr Rohan bin Kamis asked the Minister for National Development if he is aware of the unsatisfactory facilities and consequently poor patronage of the stalls in the Depot Road Market; if he will consider upgrading the facilities and, if so, what are the plans and when they will be implemented; and if the new facilities will sufficiently improve the market to cater for the residents of the new Housing and Urban Development Company Estate at Gillman Heights.

Mr Teh Cheang Wan: The Depot Road Market was built in 1974 and has 46 cooked food stalls and 83 market produce stalls. In November 1981, the HDB carried out heat insulation works, and repairs and redecoration at the Market. Despite these improvements, some 33 market produce stalls have been vacant. As surveys indicate that there is a demand for additional cooked food stalls, the Board has plans to convert the vacant stalls into 12 cooked food stalls by April 1984.

The improved facilities should be adequate to cater for residents in the new Gillman Heights HUDC estate, which will be ready for occupation in early 1984.

The 607 middle-income families occupying the flats at Gillman Heights will improve the business in the Depot Road market.