Oral Answer by Ministry of National Development on replacing old lifts in HDB estates that frequently break down
Jan 28, 2016
Ms Tin Pei Ling: To ask the Minister for National Development whether HDB will consider implementing a new upgrading programme to replace old lifts in HDB estates that are experiencing frequent breakdowns.
Answer:
Town Councils (TCs) have the statutory responsibility to carry out the maintenance and cyclical replacement of lifts in HDB estates, and are already doing so today. This includes the replacement of lifts when they are due, as well as monitoring and cyclical maintenance to ensure serviceability and prevent frequent lift breakdowns.
Nevertheless, since 2001, the Government has spent $5 billion under the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) to improve lift accessibility for 5,000 HDB blocks without direct lift access. All blocks eligible for LUP have been selected. HDB also rolled out a programme in Mar 2012 to install lifts at all HDB Multi-Storey Car Parks without barrier-free accessibility, where technically feasible.
In Sep 2014, HDB also introduced the Selective Lift Replacement Programme (SLRP) to replace about 750 old lifts with modern lifts that come with better safety and security features. The new lift features, which benefit some 33,000 households, include energy efficient motors, vision panels and doors with infra-red motion sensors. HDB is working closely with the Town Councils to implement the SLRP on a cost sharing basis. We will monitor the outcomes before deciding on the next steps.