The nearly half-century old market and food centre at Blk 112 Jalan Bukit Merah will reopen on Sunday after nine months and $4.5 million of upgrading works, promising a more spacious and airy dining experience.

Business will resume "progressively" as individual stalls complete their renovation works, the National Environment Agency said on Friday.

Twenty per cent more seats have been added, bringing the centre's seating capacity to 350. Two flights of staircases were also relocated to the edge of the centre, freeing up more room for stalls and patrons. All cooked food stalls have now been equipped with new mechanical exhaust systems to improve ventilation. Skylights have also been installed for natural daylight to brighten the centre.

The centre's toilets also received a makeover, including diaper-changing counters for parents to use, better access for the disabled, and motion sensors for lighting to save electricity. Tray return points will be installed by the first quarter of next year.

To date, 104 hawker centres managed by the NEA have been upgraded under the Hawker Centres Upgrading Programme.