Pandan Gardens

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Coordinates: 01°19′13.59″N 103°44′51.86″E / 1.3204417°N 103.7477389°E / 1.3204417; 103.7477389

Pandan Gardens
Name transcription(s)
  Chinese 班丹花园
  Pinyin ban1 dan1 hua1 yuan2
  Malay Taman Pandan
Country Singapore

Pandan Gardens (population: approx 19,000) is a residential neighbourhood which is part of Jurong East New Town in the West Region of Singapore. Immediately north of Pandan Reservoir and adjacent to Teban Gardens, it comprises exclusively public housing built by the JTC Corporation and Housing and Development Board.

Geography

Like its sister town - Teban Gardens, Pandan Gardens was a patch of mangrove swamp bordering on the banks of Sungai Pandan[1] but was subsequently reclaimed to make way for housing development projects by the JTC Corporation in 1970.[1]

Flanked on the south side by the Pandan Reservoir and the east side by the bank of Sungai Pandan, it sits situated at the fringe of Jurong Industrial Estate as well as being on the crossroad from Singapore's city center and other parts of the island towards the various industrial estates located within Jurong, Tuas and the nearby Jurong Island.

Housing Estate

Although the land reclamation of the estate began in 1970,[1] the actual construction did not commence until after 1975 as the land needed time to settle after being reclaimed from the mangrove swampland of the Sungai Pandan. JTC Corporation undertook the construction of the public housing blocks in the estate as a means to provide additional housings for the families of the workers from the nearby areas of Jurong Industrial Estate. This was done to help ease the housing problem due in part by the overcrowding in the then nearby Taman Jurong housing estate, which was also built by JTC in 1969.[2]

The first housing block was completed around 1978[1] with a running sequence from block No.401 through to 416 (both 415 and 416 are four storey shophouses). Currently, Pandan Gardens and Teban Gardens are satellite towns to the nearby Jurong East New Town.

Accessibility

Pandan Gardens is accessible via public transport service by taking Bus services 51 or 143 to the Jurong East MRT Station and the Jurong East Bus Interchange, while Ayer Rajah Expressway provides it with a well connected road access to virtually anywhere in Singapore.

The nearby attractions are the Singapore Mint, Singapore Science Centre, Snow City, Chinese Garden and Japanese Garden.

Amenities

Although Pandan has a few shophouses of its own at block No. 415 and 416, it lacks a wet market like the one found in Teban Gardens,[3] hence it gets to share the service of the market with the residents of Teban Gardens. Also located in Teban Gardens is the Ayer Rajah Neighbourhood Police Post (NPP) of Clementi Police Division[4] at block No.43, which continues to serve the residents since its inauguration in 1985.

For entertainment and shopping, there was the nearby Jurong Entertainment Centre which will be replaced with JCube, managed by CapitaMalls Asia & IMM Shopping Mall. Nearby the two shopping centers, there is also the Jurong Regional Library which is a regional public library serving the needs of all the residents and students in the surrounding region, including Pandan Gardens.

In year 2014 & early 2015 respectively, there will be a new hospital, locating right in front of the IMM Shopping Mall, and that is, Ng Teng Fong Hospital (previously Jurong General Hospital), managed by Jurong Health.

In January 2013, the old Pandan Gardens Swimming Complex was re-opened as Playlor! Arena, which is a multi-sports complex. It features 2 astroturf courts for futsal use, 1 multipurpose court, and 1 indoor beach court.

Public transport

SBS Transit Service 143
Nearest MRT Station
Jurong East MRT Station (1988 - present)
Nearest Bus Interchange
Jurong Bus Depot / Interchange (now defunct, 1978 - 1991)
Jurong East Bus Interchange (1988 - present)
Bus services serving the town
SBS Transit service number: 30, 51, 78, 79, 143, 154, 197, 198, 533.
SMRT Buses service number: 176

Public schools

West Coast Group Representation Constituency (GRC)

West Coast Group Representation Constituency.

Currently, Pandan Gardens is a part of Ayer Rajah ward within the West Coast GRC.[5]

Members of Parliament 2000 - 2010

  • Mr Lim Hng Kiang (Telok Blangah) - Minister for Trade and Industry
  • Mr S Iswaran (Ayer Rajah) Minister of State (Trade & Industry)
  • Mr Cedric Foo Chee Keng (Pioneer)
  • Madam Ho Geok Choo (Boon Lay)
  • Mr Arthur Fong (Clementi)

Members of Parliament 2011

  • Mr Lim Hng Kiang (Telok Blangah) - Minister for Trade and Industry
  • Mr S Iswaran (Ayer Rajah - West Coast) Minister in the Prime Minister's Office, Second Minister for Home Affairs and Second Minister for Trade and Industry.
  • Mr Lawrance Wong Shyun Tsai (Boon Lay)
  • Mr Arthur Fong (Clementi)
  • Ms Foo Mee Har (Ayer Rajah)

Together with Teban Gardens, parts of Jurong East New Town and Clementi West New Town, the four estates formed the Single Member Constituency (SMC)[6] of Ayer Rajah SMC prior to being absorbed into the West Coast GRC during the 2006's election in Singapore. Dr Tan Cheng Bock was the incumbent Member of Parliament, since the formation of the ward in 1980, he subsequently retired in 2006 after making way for his successor - Mr S Iswaran, the current MP.

See also

References

  1. 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 "JTC Press Release". National Archive of Singapore. 
  2. "Ministry of Health, Singapore Press Release". National Archive of Singapore. 
  3. "Map of Teban Garden Market & Food Center". sg.shownearby.com. 
  4. "Singapore Police Force Internet Portal". Singapore Police Force. 
  5. "MPs of West Coast GRC". West Coast Town Council. 
  6. "Types of Electoral Divisions, SMC & GRC". Elections Department, Singapore. 

External links

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