Country Singapore Planning Area Kallang Population 12,870 (2015) | Region Central Region Area 74 ha | |
Geylang Bahru (Chinese: 芽笼巴鲁, Tamil: கேலாங் பாரு) is a subzone located in the town of Kallang in the Central Region of Singapore. The area is also well known as Kolam Ayer based on its regional history.
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Map of Kolam Ayer, Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
Once completed, the Geylang Bahru MRT Station, the station that serves the precinct will become an interchange station on the North East Line and Downtown Line.
Etymology
The name “Kolam Ayer”, was derived from the Malay phrase "kolam air", which means "water pond" in English.
History
Before the development of Kallang, Kolam Ayer (as it was known at the time) had many Malay kampongs located within its vicinity. The precinct was mainly served by Jalan Kolam Ayer before the 1960s, which eventually merged to form part of the present-day Pan Island Expressway.
During the dredging of the Kallang River in the late 1960s and early 1970s, the Singapore government filled and leveled up the surrounding river side with red mud that was carried by lorries from a nearby hill called Ang Chiang San (now present-day Toa Payoh). These areas formed what are today Bendemeer, Kallang Bahru and the old Geylang Bahru estate.
Since then, the precinct was connected with the Kolam Ayer Community Club and the People's Action Party Kolam Ayer Branch.
After the 1980s, the Jalan Besar Town Council relocated its office in Kallang Bahru. It was later renamed Moulmein-Kallang between 2011-2015 after the redrawing of GRC boundaries. The old name was then restored following the 2015 general elections.
In April 2008, the Kolam Ayer ABC Waterfront was officially opened to the public as the first project under the Active, Beautiful, Clean Waters programme handled by Public Utilities Board.
Today, residents of Geylang Bahru are managed by the People's Association under the Kolam Ayer Geylang Bahru Residents Committee.