Commentary on Orchard Road Facelift

A $40 million makeover of Orchard Road planned by The Singapore Tourism Board (STB) has recently been completed. This includes the decoration of Orchard Road with aesthetic features along the theme of nature such as flower totems and flowery glass panels. However, this has invited much critism from the public as to whether it was the right decision to conduct this makeover. Although it helped in beautifying Orchard Road, I disagree that it was the right decision to conduct this makeover because it affects many businesses in Orchard Road. 

The $40 million makeover of Orchard Road affects many businesses in Orchard Road. The main purpose behind the makeover was to attract more visitors to Orchard Road in the hope of improving the businesses set up in Orchard Road. However, instead of doing so, the makeover has even disrupted certain businesses. During the construction works at Orchard Road, many businesses saw a lost in customers. For example, Mr Yeo Tiong Lay, who has been selling ice cream at Orchard Road for three years, noticed that the number of customers had declined because his stall was blocked from the view of pedestrains across the road due to the construction works. Also, there was a drop in the number of cusomers as most wanted to avoid the unbearable noise pollution from the construction works. Even after the makeover was finished, the decorations bring inconvenience to pedestrains and even block some stalls from the vision of window shoppers. These caused businesses to suffer from the lack of customers which defeats the intended purpose of the makeover. Thus, it was not the right decision to conduct this makeover.

However, the makover helped in beautifying Orchard Road. Orchard Road is the main shopping district of Singapore and is frequented by countless of visitors and customers every year. Thus, it is important to constantly improve the quality of our shopping district to ensure that shoppers are satisfied. Through the makeover, Orchard Road has become more beautiful and vibrant, improving the quality of our shopping district. For example, the flower totems and glass panels complement the lush greenery to paint a refreshing and peaceful picture of Orchard Road. This is important to keep up with the global standards of shopping districts, whereby there is a huge demand for the good quality shopping districts. 

Even though the makeover helped beautify Orchard Road to a certain extent, the main purpose of the makeover was not fulfilled due to the sharp decline in the number of customers. Especially during these trying times when keeping up the economy is our top priority, the makeover is certainly not a wise decision. Therefore, I disagree that it was the right decision to conduct this makeover.