Kovan

SG neighbourhood
image

englishname = Kovan
chinesename = 高文
poj =
pengim =
pinyin = Gāo Wén
malayname = Kovan
tamilname = கோவன்

Kovan (zh-sp|s=高文|p=Gāo Wén) is a suburb and part of Hougang, in the North-East Region of Singapore. It is part of Aljunied GRC. A relatively small and almost-unknown suburb, it houses many bungalows and a condominium. However, there are a number of HDB flats located nearby.

Location

As part of Hougang New Town, Kovan is situated north of Serangoon, in the north-eastern part of Singapore, under the North-East Region. A relatively small suburb, its boundaries are unclear and not defined by the Urban Redevelopment Authority (URA). Possible boundaries include the intersection at Simon Road to the north, Charlton Road to the south and Hougang Avenue 2 to the east.

Transportation facilities

The main road connecting Kovan to the other parts of Singapore is Upper Serangoon Road. Both Kovan MRT Station and Heartland Mall are situated along this major road. Nearby is the Kallang-Paya Lebar Expressway, which provides a direct route to the city area.

Public transport in Kovan is evident. It is served by Kovan MRT Station, which is just opposite to Heartland Mall. Kovan formerly had a bus terminal, which is now renamed Kovan Hub. However, many buses still pass through Kovan, as they ply through the main Upper Serangoon Road. The bus stop connected to Kovan MRT Station is a major one, and a relatively high number of buses pass through it.

Former Bus Interchange

Hougang South Bus Interchange (Chinese: 后港南巴士转换站) was a bus interchange, located in Hougang Street 21, which ceased operations on 13 February 2004. It is now called Kovan Hub. The interchange's structure continues to stand pending a major redevelopment of the site. In the meantime, the vacated building is used to host exhibitions and for commercial purposes, and the bus lots as parking space.

Amenities

The main amenity in Kovan is Heartland Mall. Heartland Mall is well-served by a number of well-known outlets and shops, such as Popular, KFC, Sakae Sushi etc. There is a football field just across the road from Heartland Mall, which is often used for hosting football matches. A bowling alley is also near Heartland Mall.

Schools

There is only one primary and two secondary schools in Kovan. These three schools are part of the 19 educational institutions in Hougang.

Primary schools

* Xinmin Primary School

Secondary schools

* Yuying Secondary School
* Xinmin Secondary School

Places of worship

* St. Paul's Chapel
* Kim Tian Christian Church
* The Buddhist Union

Politics of Kovan

Although Kovan is considered part of Hougang, it is in fact part of Aljunied GRC, and not the other 4 political divisions in Hougang. As part of Aljunied GRC, it has witnessed a colourful history.

See also

* Hougang
* Kovan MRT Station
* Hougang MRT Station