SINGAPORE : A lift that stops at every floor - that's probably a dream come true, especially for older residents.
On Wednesday, Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong announced in parliament that lifts in all blocks will be upgraded within 10 years.
Some Bukit Batok flats are 20 years old, and they are home to many senior citizens.
These elderly folks now find themselves trudging up four flights of stairs daily.
Their blocks have not undergone the lift upgrading programme.
"I have to climb up the stairs two to three times a day, very troublesome. With all my shopping load, it is very difficult."
Mr Lee announced in parliament that laws will be changed to allow town councils to use part of their sinking fund to pay for lift upgrading works.
Mr Ang Mong Seng, MP for Bukit Gombak, said: "With this new idea, new policy, it is a good idea to sit down and see what we can do, work out a plan and see whether we can install new lifts in the four-storey blocks."
Other flats expected to benefit from the lift upgrading announcements are the older blocks which had their lifts upgraded before the 2001 lift upgrading scheme kicked in.
There are currently more than 3,000 blocks which qualify for the lift upgrading scheme but have yet to receive it. - CNA