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Nearly two years after Uttar Pradesh implemented the Lift and Escalator Act, compliance levels remain uneven across the state. While the law was introduced to regulate the installation, maintenance, and safety of lifts and escalators, data shows that enforcement has been heavily concentrated in Noida. More than 80% of total registrations under the Lift and Escalator Act have come from this single district, raising concerns about broader implementation across Uttar Pradesh.
The legislation was designed to enhance passenger safety and introduce accountability in vertical transportation systems. However, the current compliance pattern indicates that much of the state is yet to fully align with the Lift and Escalator Act requirements.
Registration Status Under the Lift and Escalator Act
According to government data, approximately 12,600 consumer registrations have been completed so far, covering nearly 16,000 individual lifts. The online registration portal, launched in October 2024, was created to streamline compliance under the Lift and Escalator Act.
The rules mandated that all existing lifts be registered within six months of notification. Despite this clear timeline, implementation has progressed unevenly. Authorities acknowledge that while registrations have increased steadily, full compliance under the Lift and Escalator Act is still at an early stage.
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Why Noida Dominates Registrations
Noida accounts for over 80% of total registrations under the Lift and Escalator Act. Officials attribute this to the district’s dense concentration of high-rise residential and commercial developments. Stronger enforcement mechanisms and proactive monitoring by local authorities have also contributed to higher compliance levels.
In contrast, cities such as Lucknow have recorded fewer than 1,000 registrations. Other districts show even lower participation, indicating that enforcement of the Lift and Escalator Act remains limited outside major real estate hubs.
The disparity highlights the need for district administrations to play a more active role in ensuring statewide implementation.
Category-Wise Registration Trends
Data shows that housing societies are leading compliance under the Lift and Escalator Act, with over 8,000 registrations. Commercial buildings follow with more than 2,700 registrations.
However, participation from other segments remains modest:
- Individual private houses: just over 300 registrations
- Industrial units: slightly above 100
- Central government buildings: around 160
- State government departments: about 175
- Public sector undertakings: roughly 340
The numbers suggest that compliance under the Lift and Escalator Act is primarily being driven by residential societies rather than industrial or institutional stakeholders.
Manufacturers and Maintenance Agencies: Limited Participation
The effectiveness of the Lift and Escalator Act also depends on compliance by manufacturers and annual maintenance contract (AMC) agencies. So far, only 87 lift manufacturers and 98 AMC agencies have registered under the Act.
Given the scale of urban construction across Uttar Pradesh, these figures appear modest. Experts believe that greater participation from supply-side stakeholders is essential for ensuring consistent safety standards under the Lift and Escalator Act.
Key Provisions of the Lift and Escalator Act
The Lift and Escalator Act lays down strict guidelines for installation, maintenance, and renewal:
- No lift or escalator can be installed without prior registration.
- Existing lifts were required to register within six months of notification.
- Installation of automatic rescue devices is mandatory to ensure safety during power failures.
- Registration fee is ₹5,000 per lift for public and private establishments, renewable every five years.
- Manufacturers must pay ₹25,000 annually for renewal.
- Annual maintenance certificates must be uploaded online each year.
Government buildings are exempt from fees but must still comply with registration requirements under the Lift and Escalator Act.
Implementation Challenges and Safety Concerns
Despite clear rules, enforcement gaps remain. Officials acknowledge that thousands of lifts are likely operational across Uttar Pradesh, yet only a fraction are formally registered under the Lift and Escalator Act.
Limited awareness, administrative delays, and insufficient enforcement in certain districts have slowed progress. Meanwhile, intermittent reports of lift-related accidents underline the urgency of full compliance.
Energy department officials have emphasized that stronger enforcement measures and wider public outreach are necessary to ensure the Lift and Escalator Act achieves its intended safety objectives.
The Road Ahead
The Lift and Escalator Act represents a significant step toward regulating vertical mobility infrastructure in Uttar Pradesh. However, current data shows that compliance is geographically skewed, with Noida leading and many districts trailing behind.
For the Lift and Escalator Act to be truly effective, enforcement must become uniform across the state. Greater coordination between district administrations, manufacturers, maintenance agencies, and property owners will be essential.
As urbanisation accelerates and high-rise construction expands, ensuring full compliance with the Lift and Escalator Act will be critical to safeguarding public safety and maintaining regulatory accountability in the years ahead.
Ans 1. The Act regulates the installation, maintenance, and safety of lifts and escalators in Uttar Pradesh, aiming to ensure passenger safety and accountability for owners and operators.
Ans 2. So far, around 12,600 consumer registrations covering nearly 16,000 lifts have been completed, mostly from residential societies.
Ans 3. Noida accounts for over 80% of registrations due to its dense concentration of high-rise buildings, proactive monitoring, and stronger enforcement by local authorities.
Ans 4. Housing societies lead with over 8,000 registrations, followed by commercial buildings. Industrial units, government buildings, and public sector establishments show limited participation.
Ans 5. Only 87 lift manufacturers and 98 AMC agencies have registered so far, highlighting the need for more participation from the supply side to maintain safety standards.
Ans 6. All lifts and escalators must be registered before installation, install automatic rescue devices, pay registration fees, and upload annual maintenance certificates online. Government buildings are exempt from fees but must comply with registration.
Ans 7. Compliance is uneven outside Noida due to limited awareness, administrative delays, and weak enforcement in many districts, even as thousands of lifts remain operational without registration.
Ans 8. Unregistered lifts may violate safety norms, leading to potential accidents and legal liabilities for owners, while authorities may impose penalties or restrict operation until compliance is achieved.
Ans 9. Stronger enforcement, wider public awareness campaigns, and better coordination among district administrations, property owners, manufacturers, and maintenance agencies are needed to achieve uniform compliance.
Ans 10. The Act ensures safe vertical mobility infrastructure, reduces accident risks, and introduces accountability for installation and maintenance as urbanisation and high-rise development grow across the state.