“Drum”, that’s the sound that echoes in the etymology of Bedok. This vibrant town pulses with life. It has a rich tapestry of history woven into its very streets.
Bedok is more than just a residential area. It is a planning area located in the East Region of Singapore. It is also the largest planning area in the country. Approximately 280,000 residents call Bedok home.
Let’s journey back to the roots of Bedok. The name “Bedok” likely originates from the Malay word for “drum”. This refers to the sound of drums during traditional festivals. The name was recorded as early as 1604 on Manuel Godinho de Erédia’s map of Singapore. The Bedok River appeared as Sune Bodo.
Bedok’s history is intertwined with its coastal location. Early maps mentioned the area before the British colonized Singapore in 1819. Simpang Bedok became a diverse community of Chinese and Malay people. Before the 1960s, coconut plantations were a primary source of income. Villagers also relied on fishing in Simpang Bedok.
Modern Bedok began to take shape in 1966. Reclamation works transformed the coastal area. The Housing and Development Board transformed Bedok into a self-contained new town. The first residential flats appeared around 1975. Bedok Jetty became a landing point for Vietnamese refugees during Operation Thunderstorm. This followed the Fall of Saigon.
Bedok Town developed rapidly from 1973. Roads like Bedok Plain and Bedok Highway emerged by 1975. New Upper Changi Road opened in 1979. Development continued with Bedok Reservoir and Kaki Bukit between 1983 and 1988.
Bedok is bordered by several planning areas. Paya Lebar lies to the north. Hougang is to the northwest. Tampines sits to the northeast and east. Geylang is to the west. Marine Parade is to the southwest. Bedok also shares a maritime boundary with the Singapore Strait.
Bedok is divided into eight subzones. Each has its unique character. Bayshore stretches along Bayshore Road. Bedok North encompasses the town center. Bedok Reservoir surrounds the scenic reservoir. Bedok South is along Bedok South Road. Frankel includes Telok Kurau and Siglap Road. Kaki Bukit is in northwest Bedok. Kembangan centers around the MRT station. Siglap extends along Marine Vista and Siglap Link.
Bedok New Town covers nearly 9.4 square kilometers. Residential use occupies about 42% of the area. The town’s design focuses on a landscaped park and sports complex. Residential blocks follow the neighborhood concept. The town center is between Bedok Mall and the former Bedok Point site.
Heartbeat @ Bedok is a large integrated complex. It features a sports center, library, clinic, and community club. It opened in 2017.
The Housing and Development Board built around 58,000 flats in Bedok New Town. Most are 3-room or 4-room units. Bedok provides housing for approximately 200,000 residents.
Transportation is convenient with nine MRT stations. The East-West Line, Downtown Line and Thomson-East Coast Line serve the area. The Bedok Bus Interchange facilitates bus connections. The new Bedok Integrated Transport Hub opened in 2014.
Green spaces abound in Bedok. Bedok Town Park and Bedok Reservoir Park offer recreational opportunities. Bedok Reservoir Park allows water sports. It has facilities for wakeboarding, sailing, and kayaking.
From a fishing village to a modern town Bedok has transformed. Bedok continues to evolve. It embraces its history. It looks forward to the future.