Orchard Road used to be the prime shopping district here and was the only place selling branded and fashionable goods.

However, after shopping malls started opening all around Singapore near residential areas, locals have not been going to Orchard Road to shop, preferring to shop near their home for the convenience.

Orchard Road shop owners, meanwhile, have been complaining about the lack of human traffic and falling sales.

Therefore, we need to create a new allure for Orchard Road to draw locals there.

The Government's proposal to pedestrianise the area is a correct step but we can do more, such as staging cultural activities (Orchard takes pedestrian route to recapture traffic; April 14).

This would also enable Singaporeans to forge stronger bonds and foster unity, which would help in tackling the threat of terrorism.

Additional ideas could include bringing in more foreign brands not available in suburban malls and allowing buskers to perform on the street on Fridays and during weekends.

Adding more nightlife activities could also help boost the area's popularity among youngsters.

Jordan Loo Ming Zhou, 15, Secondary 3 student