The projected foreign worker dormitory in Serangoon Gardens was delayed due to a commotion among residents prior to the announcement of the said dorm. However, the trouble has already been fixed and its operation is likely to commence in August.
Lim Hwee Hua, Aljunied GRC member of Parliament, posted some updates regarding the process in a letter to the inhabitants on the Web site of the GRC. It is expected that in the coming month, the contract permitting the construction of the dorm will be given and in May, work can already begin. The dorm is proposed to be built at an abandoned school.
Madam Lim also added that an access road is set to be completed before July ends. It will provide a convenient route for residents at the dorm to enter and leave without the need to pass through the estate.
The ageing estate’s residents became angry last September after hearing some rumours that the government plans to erect a foreign worker dorm within the neighbourhood. Over a thousand residents signed on a petition to decline the construction of the dorm and passed it on to Mr. Mah Bow Tan, the National Development Minister. A number of concerns were raised by the opposing residents, including security and safety, competition for common facilities, as well as traffic congestion.
The Ministry of National Development announced last October that the construction would still progress, whilst considering the concerns of the residents. For instance, workers for the dorm will only be limited to 600 workers for a start. Furthermore, the dorm will also have its own facilities, like provision shop. As an added measure, the access road will be constructed in order to assure the residents that foreign workers will not be overrunning their estate.