Senja, Singapore

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Senja
Subzone of Bukit Panjang Planning Area
Name transcription(s)
• Chinese	信佳
• Pinyin	Xìnjiā
• Tamil	சென்ஜா
Senja    Senja in    Singapore
Coordinates: 1°23′08.6″N 103°45′39.4″E / 1.385722°N 103.760944°E / 1.385722; 103.760944Coordinates: 1°23′08.6″N 103°45′39.4″E / 1.385722°N 103.760944°E / 1.385722; 103.760944
Country	Singapore
Region	West Region
CDC	North West CDC
Town Council	Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council
Constituencies	Holland-Bukit Timah GRC
Government
• Mayor	North West CDC Alex Yam
• Members of Parliament	Holland-Bukit Timah GRC Edward Chia (Zhenghua) Vivian Balakrishnan (Cashew)

Senja is a residential subzone and neighbourhood in Bukit Panjang, Singapore. It is bounded by the KJE to the north, Woodlands Road to the west and Bukit Panjang Ring Road to the southeast. It is also known as Bukit Panjang Neighbourhood 6.

The subzone, just like the rest of the town, is managed by the Holland-Bukit Panjang Town Council. Most of the area is politically in the Zhenghua ward of Holland-Bukit Timah GRC and is represented by Member of Parliament Edward Chia, while a small portion of the subzone towards the south is in the Cashew ward, represented by Vivian Balakrishnan.

It mainly houses both old and new public residential HDB flats, several schools, commercial and healthcare facilities.

Etymology[]

Senja in Malay means 'dusk' or 'twilight'.^[1] Just like many other roads and subzones within Bukit Panjang, the reasoning behind the naming is mostly unknown, with some claiming the name Senja is due to its location of being in the west of the town and being able to see sunsets in the evening.

The name was first used before Bukit Panjang became a new town in a road called 'Jalan Senja'. It was a road that branched of 'Jalan Cheng Hwa', which was used for the original name of the town, 'Zhenghua New Town'. Both roads have since been amalgamated and are presently located in the Petir area.

History[]

The area, before its urbanisation, consisted of kampongs and various roads such as Lorong Lompang, Lorong Malai, Lorong Sigar and Lorang Jelapang. Most of the roads would be reused for the naming of new roads of the new Zhenghua town, which are still around today. Notable places at the time within the subzone included the first Bukit Panjang Community Centre and many rubber plantations which were common at the time.^[2]

After the demolition of the kampongs in Bukit Panjang, the area was mostly untouched while the rest of the town started to urbanise. In the mid-1990s, the first HDB flats were finally built.^[3][4] The first few blocks started its 99-year lease on 1 March 1999. Since then, two more HDB precincts were built until the launch of the first BTO precinct in 2008.^[5] Another two BTO precincts were constructed and completed, and three more precincts are currently under construction and is expected to be completed in 2021.

Housing[]

Transportation[]

Roads[]

Senja has multiple roads running through the neighbourhood. It started with two roads, Senja Road and Senja Link. Later on in the mid-2000s, Senja Way was added to link the subzone to Woodlands Road. In 2017, Senja Road was extended with a slip road linking Senja to the KJE.^[6]

By end-2021, two new roads would be added, Senja Close and an extension to Senja Link.

Senja Road and Senja Link is currently undergoing major road works, which includes the widening of roads and the addition of small slip roads. A part of Senja Road is also being converted to a one-way road. This will help to facilitate the opening of Senja Close and the Senja Link extension, as well as the future Senja-KJE vehicular interchange. It will be the result of the upgrading of the Senja Road slip road to a full-scale interchange, allowing residents to enter and exit the neighbourhood. It is expected to be completed by end-2022.^[7]

Public Transport[]

The neighbourhood consists of two LRT stations, which are Jelapang and Senja stations. They are part of the 13-station Bukit Panjang LRT line which opened in 1999.

There are also multiple bus services and bus stops that are operated by SMRT Buses. They are part of the Choa Chu Kang-Bukit Panjang Bus Package.^[8]

Education[]

There is one primary school and two secondary schools in Senja. They are namely West View Primary School, West Spring Secondary School and Zhenghua Secondary School.^[9] There are also many smaller kindergartens and childcare centres found commonly at void decks of HDB blocks.

Amenities and attractions[]

Community[]

The neighbourhood contains four residents' committee centres (RC), which are Cashew Zone '3', Zhenghua-Senja Square, Zhenghua-Senja and Zhenghua-Senja View. Most RCs have small community gardens.

There are also two neighbourhood parks, namely Bukit Panjang Neighbourhood 6 Park in Senja Parc View, and Senja Woods in Senja Ridges.

Commercial[]

There are multiple small commercial buildings within the town, like Senja Centre in Senja Grand, at Senja Gateway, Senja Heights and at Senja Valley. They mainly consist of coffeeshops, minimarts and supermarkets.

The Senja Hawker Centre is expected to be opened in 2022, after a two-year delay. It will be Bukit Panjang's second hawker centre.

Healthcare[]

The area will also house the town's first polyclinic, the Bukit Panjang Polyclinic, by 2021. It is a 12-storey development that includes basic healthcare facilities, dental services, children and women healthcare services, and the Senja Care Home.^[10]

The neighbourhood, apart from Senja Care Home, also has another nursing home run by Pacific Healthcare.

Worship[]

There are two places of worship in the subzone, which are the Senja Soka Centre and another proposed Chinese temple.

References[]