Private estate residents living in Bishan-Toa Payoh GRC, now have a hotline to call to connect them to Government agencies on various maintenance issues.

The One Connect programme, which was launched today by Defence Minister Dr Ng Eng Hen, Grassroot Advisers Mrs Josephine Teo, Mr Zainudin Nordin and Mr Hri Kumar, will serve 22,700 private estate residents from 10,000 private estate households.

The programme was first launched in 2009 by Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong to cater to a growing number of affluent Singaporeans living in private estates.

Unlike residents in HDB estates, those living in private properties do not have a Town Council to approach on matters such as their social well-being, safety and security of their estates and maintenance issues.

"Private residents here did not have a single point of contact, so we felt to better serve residents, it will be good that they have one number that they can call. The idea is to make it more efficient for them," said Dr Ng.