For the residents of the "Forgotten" area. The good news has finally arrived (in ST??). The rumor of having a new interchage has finally become a reality. The Straits Times has reported that the piece of land between current Serangoon MRT and the interchange has just been sold off at the price of S$800 million. It was to be developed for commerical purposes and at the same time, to have an air-con Bus Interchange and to integrate together with the existing NorthEast Line and the upcoming Circle Line.

THE Land Transport Authority (LTA) has awarded the white site at Serangoon Central to Gold Ridge, which submitted the highest bid of S$800,900,000 for the 25,000 sq m plot.
The 99-year leasehold site, with a maximum gross floor area (GFA) of 87,527.00 sq m, works out to a tendered price of S$9,150.32 per sqm.

The tender was launched on Dec 7 and closed on March 26.

The developer will design and construct a development with a bus interchange, to be integrated with the Serangoon North East Line MRT Station and the Serangoon Circle Line MRT Station.
Chief Executive of LTA, Mr Yam Ah Mee said: 'Integrated public transport hubs will enhance connectivity by making our bus interchanges and MRT stations more accessible.'

'Residents have told us they enjoy the comfort and convenience of our air-conditioned bus interchanges at Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh and Sengkang. Public transport ridership at these areas has also gone up steadily.'

'As part of the Land Transport Review, we will build more integrated public transport hubs. Serangoon Central will be the first of five additional hubs to be built over the next ten years.'
Four other integrated public transport hubs will be built at Bedok, Jurong, Joo Koon and Marina South.

There are now three integrated public transport hubs at Ang Mo Kio, Toa Payoh and Sengkang.

Two are being built at Boon Lay and Clementi and scheduled to be completed by 2009 and 2011 respectively, said LTA on Friday.

>> Question will still remain.. When will it be ready for the public to use it.. ?? We shall see. I believe that it will be up by somewhere between 2011 and 2012. If u remember, 2011 is a very important year to many Singaporeans. Can we have a repeat of what happened at AMK GRC ? I hope that ccould happen over in Marine Parade GRC too !!