LIFT UPGRADING PROGRAMME

LIFT UPGRADING PROGRAMME

13.

Mr Baey Yam Keng asked the Minister for National Development (a) how many HDB blocks have not obtained the minimum support level for the Lift Upgrading Programme since the programme was rolled out; and (b) for these blocks, whether they will be offered another chance as some flat owners and their sentiments would have changed over the years.

Mr Mah Bow Tan: The Lift Upgrading Programme (LUP) was introduced in 2001 to offer direct lift access to HDB flat owners. Of the 5,000 blocks selected for LUP so far, 54 blocks did not obtain the minimum support of 75% required from residents during polling. These include blocks that were offered lift upgrading under LUP as well as LUP carried out together with earlier programmes such as the Main Upgrading Programme (MUP) and IUP (Interim Upgrading Programme) Plus.

Blocks that did not achieve the requisite level of support are given another chance, where possible. Of the 54 blocks that earlier failed polling, 32 blocks (or 60%) have been re-offered the LUP so far. Of these 32 blocks, 22 blocks have re-polled successfully, while

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the other 10 blocks have yet to re-poll. The remaining 22 blocks that earlier failed polling can be re-offered the LUP. Advisers can work with HDB to do so.

The Government is committed to complete the LUP by 2014. Therefore, we urge residents to exercise their polling options carefully within this timeframe, taking into consideration the benefits that the LUP will bring to them and their families.

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