Shutting Down Lift Shafts

Mr Patrick Tay Teck Guan asked the Minister for National Development what is the rationale and reason behind shutting down existing lifts or lift shafts after the construction of new lifts or lift shafts under the Lift Upgrading Programme and why certain precincts are not affected by this shutdown.

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Mr Khaw Boon Wan: When new lifts are added under the Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP), an existing lift may be upgraded or shut down, taking into account the total number of new lifts added, safety requirements, service levels, and the design of the block. In general, the total number of lifts after LUP will not be less than the number of lifts before LUP.

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It is desirable to optimise the number of lifts as it allows the Town Councils to spend less on maintaining and replacing the lifts at the end of their lifespan. This translates into lower service and conservancy charges for the residents.

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