Flashback Friday: Expansion plan announced for Pulau Tekong on June 20, 1976

An aerial view of the extent of land reclamation done around Pulau Tekong. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN
An aerial view of the extent of land reclamation done around Pulau Tekong. -- ST PHOTO: ALPHONSUS CHERN

SINGAPORE - The Port of Singapore Authority (PSA) announced plans to undertake a $200 million reclamation project at Pulau Tekong on June 20, 1976.

Several local and international dredging companies were bidding for the contract which was called by PSA on behalf of the Government.

Four hundred hectares of land were to be reclaimed, increasing the land area from 1,771 ha to 2,171 ha.

In 1972, then-Prime Minister Lee Kuan Kew told Pulau Tekong residents that the island might be turned into an industrial site or be used for military training within the next 10 years.

Further land reclamation projects were carried out after 1976, and today the island's land area is 2,443 ha.

Pulau Tekong was turned into a military training site for the Singapore Armed Forces, and is now home to the Basic Military Training Centre.

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