SINGAPORE — The Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) will be holding a week-long military training exercise at the disused Rochor Centre starting on Saturday (July 15).

The last residents of the 567-unit iconic landmark, known for its four colourful blocks of Housing and Development Board (HDB) flats, had vacated their units in January.

On Thursday, a gazette notice for the area to be declared a firing ground was published on the Government’s e-gazette portal.

In response to media queries, the Ministry of Defence (Mindef) said Rochor Centre will be used to conduct a military training exercise from Saturday to next Friday. During the exercise, training ammunition and pyrotechnics will be used.

Mindef said: “To ensure public safety and to prevent public alarm, the area will be cordoned off to the public. Residents and other stakeholders in the immediate vicinity of Rochor Centre had been informed of the exercise and are advised to stay clear of the area during the exercise period.”

The ministry said the exercise is “part of the SAF’s efforts to strengthen its capabilities in homeland security operations”. Where the opportunity arises, “disused places like Rochor Centre are used for homeland security training as they provide realistic urban training opportunities for our forces”, Mindef added. It reiterated that the SAF will continue to work closely with the Home Team to strengthen its capabilities and ability to respond effectively to the terrorism threat.

The Rochor estate had been acquired by the Government to make way for the 21.5km-long North-South Expressway, which will connect towns in the northern region to the city centre.