Officiating at the completion ceremony of the Lift Upgrading Programme on Saturday was Member of Parliament for Tanjong Pagar GRC and Minister Mentor Lee Kuan Yew, who was mobbed by residents eager for a handshake and a picture.
One lucky family, the Yaps, even had a visit from Mr Lee himself. The household will be co-paying about S$300 for the lift upgrading after subsidies from the government and town council.
The family said it is money well spent for the ease of movement, especially when they have young kids and an elderly.
Walter Yap said: "If not, we would have to carry the prams up and down the stairs. My mum is already in her 60s, so it's good for her too."
Flats built by the Housing and Development Board (HDB) before the 1990s did not have lifts stopping at every level because of demands for privacy.
However, due to the growing elderly population and in order to meet the needs of the disabled, HDB introduced the Lift Upgrading Programme in 2001 to give barrier-free access to residents.
- CNA/so
By Imelda Saad, Channel NewsAsia
Posted: 03 October 2009 2139 hrs
