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Hotel at Bugis to make way for new Downtown Line MRT station (Artist's impression) The new Bugis station will be sited under Rochor Road and partly within the adjacent land to the west. THE Government will acquire the New Seventh Storey Hotel at Bugis to make way for a Downtown Line (DTL) MRT station. The Land Transport Authority said on Thursday that the hotel will have to be vacated by year end to enable comprehensive redevelopment of the area. The new Bugis station is one of six that make up the 4.3 km DTL Stage 1 (DTL1) that will run from Bugis Station on the East-West Line (EWL) to Chinatown Station on the North East Line (NEL). The other five stations are Promenade, Bayfront, Landmark, Cross Street and Chinatown. The new line is scheduled to open in 2013. The new Bugis station will be sited under Rochor Road and partly within the adjacent land to the west. LTA said due to engineering constraints which cannot be avoided, the land currently occupied by the New Seventh Storey Hotel and part of the adjacent state land fronting Rochor Road, is needed for the construction of the station box and station structures, such as the station's entrance and lift facility. 'The hotel will have to be demolished to allow for the construction of the station,' said LTA. The hotel site will be amalgamated with the adjacent state land parcel at North Bridge Road, Tan Quee Lan Street, Beach Road and Rochor Road for future comprehensive redevelopment. LTA said the amalgamation of the hotel site with the adjacent land parcel will allow for better integration of the station with future development in the area, and allow the planned pedestrian network and urban design plans for the area to be carried out. The owner and occupants of the New Seven Storey Hotel, who will have to move out of the building by end December, will receive compensation pegged at market value. LTA said commuters will have more transport choices in the city as the DTL 1 will serve existing and upcoming developments in the Marina Bay area, including One Raffles Quay, The Sail @ Marina Bay, Marina Bay Sands Integrated Resorts and the Marina Bay Financial Centre. The contract for the construction of the new DTL Bugis station and tunnels from Beach Road to Queen Street will be up for tender in early July and awarded in November. Founder of 7th storey Hotel 7th storey Hotel

Gng there on Sat evening... per entry over there is 3.21 after 5pm... any cheaper lobang to park legally other than the per entry parking? thanks

I work near Raffles place. I usually park at the HDB carpark at Hong Lim Complex. Is there any other HDB carpark around Raffles place, that is nearer compared to Hong Lim? Also, is anyone aware of any differences between HDB carparks and URA carparks?

downtown line trains arrived can anyone explains why are we paying the top money for PRC stuff? another cost cutting scheme from the SCORLARS?

http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/S...ory_782112.html why liddat? Seven of the 12 youths involved in the Downtown East gang clash of 2010 that left a student dead had their murder charges reduced to lesser ones on Monday. Of the seven, five will now be tried for culpable homicide not amounting to murder, and two, for rioting with a dangerous weapon. No reason was given for stepping down the charges. y no reason? With this development on Monday, it means that the gang of 12 allegedly behind the bloodbath at the entertainment hub on Oct 30, 2010 will be spared the gallows.

SINGAPORE: The first of the group involved in the Downtown East murder has pleaded guilty. 21-year-old Jason Chew Wei Beng admitted to three charges on Wednesday. Prosecution is proceeding on two of the three charges - rioting and voluntarily causing hurt. Chew admitted to causing grievous hurt to 19-year-old Darren Ng Wei Jie on 30 October 2010, between 5.30pm and 5.57pm, at the foyer of Downtown East. He did so with 11 members of an unlawful assembly, by slashing and stabbing the deceased with knives, choppers and a screwdriver. In mitigation, defence counsel Tan Beng Swee told the court that his client did not expect a fight to take place at Downtown East as his friends did not warn him about it. Mr Tan said Chew subsequently met his other friends and for fear of getting implicated, he kept a distance from the group as he walked behind them. The defence lawyer added that Chew then went to McDonald's with two of his friends and were taunted by the girlfriends of his buddies. At that time, two groups were said to be arguing outside the fast food chain. Trying not to lose face, the trio at McDonald's went out to help their friends. Unfortunately for Chew, Mr Tan said the fight broke out just as he went to join his group of friends. Mr Tan also stressed that Chew is not a secret society member. He pointed out that Chew, unlike his other friends who were in for a fight, did not bring or buy choppers or knives. Wrapping up, Mr Tan said none of the injuries inflicted on the deceased was due to Chew. In response, Deputy Public Prosecutor Peggy Pao said the charges were amended and reduced to reflect the lesser culpability of Chew's involvement. While Chew tried to distant himself from the group, he remained. DPP Pao said he could have walked away when taunted, instead of giving in, but he did not and the act of joining the fight shows that he lacked morals. She added that Chew cannot claim the glory of being in a fight, yet hope that later on he would not have to face the consequences. Prosecution added that Chew had been placed on probation previously but still went ahead to take part in the fight. For rioting, Chew faces a jail term of up to seven years and shall be liable to caning. He admitted that he punched the head of 20-year-old Yeo Jun Liang on 6 April 2010 at about 6.10pm at Bishan bus interchange, together with three friends. For this charge, Chew faces a maximum jail term of two years, or with fine of up to S$5,000, or both. Sentencing will take place on the 6 March. http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1184485/1/.html

These young men very heng, if kena under murder charge and convicted will face the gallows... From CNA: http://www.channelnewsasia.com/stories/sin...1153065/1/.html Downtown East murder: charges reduced By Shaffiq Alkhatib | Posted: 14 September 2011 1515 hrs SINGAPORE: Four youths accused of killing a 19-year-old student at the Downtown East entertainment hub in Pasir Ris last year have had their murder charges reduced to that of rioting. They are: Chong Rui Hong and Ng Wei Lun, both 19 years old, 20-year-old Puay De Feng and 21-year-old Jason Chew Wei Beng. While those convicted of murder will be sent to the gallows, the young men can instead be jailed up to seven years and caned if they are found guilty of rioting. All four are now accused of being members of an unlawful assembly whose common object was to cause grievous hurt to Darren Ng Wei Jie on October 30, 2010. Court documents stated that one or more members of the group allegedly used violence on the Republic Polytechnic student by stabbing and slashing him with knives, choppers as well as a screwdriver. Puay and Chew will be back in court on September 28 while the case involving the other two will be mentioned again next month. Eight other youths, between 16 and 22-year-old, who are also believed to be involved in the case still face murder charges. They include 20-year-old Stilwell Ong Keat Pin and 21-year-old Ho Wui Ming. The group allegedly attacked Darren between 5.30pm and 6pm at the main foyer of Downtown East on October 30. He succumbed to his injuries and died in Changi General Hospital about five hours later. Seven of these youths will have their cases re-mentioned on November 2. An eighth alleged accomplice, 21-year-old Lewis Wee Jun Jie will be back in court on September 19. - CNA/ck

Wah!!! Very gangsta nowadays. Go out don't anyhow stare at people ... What a waste of a young life... I'm surprised the attackers were daring enough to do this in front of a whole crowd (Downtown East, on Saturday???) Might as well be a crowd of sheep... http://www.straitstimes.com/BreakingNews/S...ory_597565.html Oct 31, 2010 Teen slashed to death HALLOWEEN horror became real on Saturday night at Downtown East. A 19-year-old youth repeatedly hacked by a group of youths in full view of a crowd died in hospital hours later. The violent attack and subsequent attempt by the youth and his friends to flee left a 500m long trail of blood at the Pasir Ris resort and amusement park. No one has been arrested and police have classified the case as murder. Darren Ng Wei Jie was with two friends when they got into a 'staring incident' with a group of about 10 teenagers. Witnesses The Straits Times spoke to said the encounter started with angry words, but this descended into a punch-fest on the lawn just outside fast-food restaurant MacDonald's. It is believed Darren's attacker produced a chopper and slashed him several times. The bleeding teenager and his friends tried to escape by running towards a row of indoor restaurants and shops called The Alley. The dead youth is believed to have been in his third year at Republic Polytechnic and also in its water polo team. Anyone with information may call the police at 1800-255-0000.

Nov 11, 2010 Police have arrested 19 youths who appeared at the subordinate courts on Wednesday. They are believed to be gang members. In addition, a 16-year-old has become the fifth person to be charged in the Downtown East murder case. http://multimedia.asiaone.com/Multimedia/N...1111-11344.html These stupid idiots thou they are brave! openly challenge the Police.

With downtown lines, Northeast line, east coast line, additional north south line, 10 years down, no need car liao, everyone can take MRT and pay property prices through their noses. Everyone can expect a mrt stn at their door! How will this affect the prices of those property with existing lines?

Where is the nearest carpark to Downtown East? The carparks bloody full today ,spent 1 hours there but still can't go in.

UPFRONT Teochew cemetery's last Qing Ming By April Chong MADAM Ng Cheng Huay has spent most of the 80 years of her life on the grounds of a cemetery. She maintains the Tua Pek Kong Temple at the Kwong Hou Sua Teochew Cemetery on Woodlands Road. Her late father was one of its earliest caretakers and the family had a house behind the cemetery, where they reared chickens, ducks and pigs. She took over looking after the graves when he died in the 1930s and now her 49-year-old son is doing the job. But not for much longer. The 14.6ha cemetery, one of the oldest here, is to be cleared in October to make way for the depot of the proposed Downtown Line. The families turning up here to mark this year's Qing Ming - the Chinese memorial festival - with prayers and offerings at their ancestors' tombs are therefore doing it for the last time. Qing Ming, which falls today, means 'clear and bright'. During the 10 days in the run-up to and following from the actual day, families carry out the annual ritual of tidying up the graves and columbarium niches of kin who have died, as a show of filial piety. Offerings of food and drink are made. Joss sticks are lit. Prayers are said. Madam Ng recalls when families would descend by the lorry-load, bringing all sorts of offerings. 'They used to bring roasted pork, chicken and duck. Now it's mainly fruit and, perhaps, packed vegetarian food,' she said in Hokkien. There are also fewer young people who come to tend the graves. One extended family of seven who were at the cemetery on Wednesday were mainly in their 50s. Boat captain Yeo Theng Kow, 52, said: 'The younger generation is moving away from such traditions.' He was there to pay his respects to his grandfather, who died in 1952, with an assortment of fruit and paper offerings made out to look like liquor and beer bottles, clothes and shoes. The Kwong Hou Sua Teochew Cemetery was owned by the Ngee Ann Kongsi before the land was acquired by the Government in the 1980s. Burials stopped in the 1970s. An estimated 10,000 bodies are believed to be buried in the 3,000 graves - the mismatch in numbers the result of several members of a family being buried together in many cases. Madam Ng pointed out one of the oldest graves - a circular tomb, adorned with stone lions and carvings. It was easily 20m across, the width of an Olympic-sized pool. Buried there is a man who died in 1928, with his wife. The name on one of the headstones is no longer discernible. Madam Ng said it was hit by a mortar shell during World War II. Another large tomb, half the size of a tennis court, stands guard over the graves of a man and his five wives. Nearby is a tomb of a man who died in 1935. Buried with him are his seven wives. Madam Ng said that in the old days, wealthy men usually set aside space for their spouses. Graves would be reopened for coffins that came along later. The tombs of the wealthy stand out by their size, as well as the figurines and coloured tiles that adorn them. All the structures will go when exhumation starts in October. The Land Transport Authority has already put up notices asking descendants to claim the remains of their dead by Oct 15. So far, about 368 parties have done so. The LTA will bear the cost of the exhumation and the installation of the urns in a government columbarium. Unclaimed remains will be exhumed and stored for up to three years before being cremated. The ashes will be scattered at sea. The first phase of exhumation will affect 2,000 graves. Another 1,000 or so with larger, more elaborate tombs will be cleared later. Family members who have been coming to the cemetery every Qing Ming waxed nostalgic about the annual remembrance of the dead. Retiree Lee Mee Yoon, 70, who will move her grandmother's remains to a columbarium, said her annual trips to the cemetery date back to her childhood. 'It's very sad that this place will be gone. I have a lot of memories here,' she said. 'This was where I got to meet other family members besides during the Chinese New Year.' Now the older folk worry that as time goes by, their long-dead ancestors will be forgotten by the younger generation, who admit that they are not sure what the rituals are and how to perform them. Engineer Chan Huiling, 25, said: 'I guess I will learn when the time comes.' But project manager Anabelle Tan, 30, said that honouring the dead need not be confined to Qing Ming. In fact, she stores joss sticks and paper offerings in the boot of her family's car so that they can drop in at the columbarium to pay their respects any time. Cemeteries cleared over the years to make way for development include the Bidadari Cemetery in the Upper Aljunied area, which housed at least 10,000 Christian and Muslim graves. Many housing estates, such as Bishan and Tiong Bahru, are sitting on past burial grounds. Even bustling Ngee Ann City used to be the site of an old Teochew cemetery. For Madam Ng, the closure of the cemetery in Woodlands marks the end of three generations of work by her family. She is so well known there that regular visitors bring her gifts of food when they come at Qing Ming. She now lives in Queenstown with a daughter. Her son Ah Huat is scouting for a new location for the cemetery's temple so that the deities will have a proper home. Soon her years in the cemetery, and the stories of the graves and tombs will be a memory. 'I will miss this place and the people,' she said. [email protected] ----------- fwah... lidat how abt the cost of the land deh? LTA no compensate meh? if one grave occupy 3 m2 n based on elite's viewpoint every pc of land got potential to b tagged to Raffles Place, that means smelly smelly also each family can get $50K doh.