AHTC to spend S$17.5m to upgrade and replace lifts

SINGAPORE — The Aljunied-Hougang Town Council (AHTC) plans to refurbish its lifts nearing the 15-year mark, after finding in the past two years that critical parts in some older lifts have become obsolete earlier than expected, leading to frequent breakdowns.

The Workers’ Party-run town council — which manages about 1,700 lifts — called for a tender to replace 20 lifts in October, and will continue to call for similar tenders for selected lifts over the next four years. The exercise is estimated to cost the town council S$17.5 million in total.

The town council’s plans will bring forward the lift replacement schedule for selected lifts in the town, before the Housing and Development Board’s recommended 28-year upgrading/replacement guideline, said AHTC chairman Pritam Singh, in a statement issued on Monday (Dec 5).

The 15-year mark for refurbishment was picked as it corresponds to the half-way point of the recommended lifespan for each lift, he added.

The HDB’s Lift Enhancement Programme introduced in September will fund about 90 per cent of the town council’s costs to install recommended enhancement features, which include devices to detect and stop unintended lift car movements, communication devices in the lift, and mechanisms to detect slackening of ropes, among others.

Noting that lift maintenance and part replacement costs have been on an “upward trajectory”, Mr Singh said: “While the town council will endeavour to keep all its lifts safe for use, it calls on all users to exercise care when using lifts. Acts of vandalism and improper use of lifts, amongst other reasons, contribute to frequent breakdowns and increased maintenance, leading to escalating costs.”