With over 6,000 lifts installed in Assam, nearly 80% of which are located in Guwahati, the maintenance of these crucial vertical transport systems remains alarmingly neglected. As urbanisation continues to expand in the capital city, lifts have become an indispensable feature in high-rise residential and commercial buildings. However, frequent failures in maintenance and widespread non-compliance with safety norms are raising significant concerns about the safety and reliability of these machines.
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Despite clear regulations under the Assam Lifts and Escalators Act of 2006 and the subsequent Lift and Escalators Rules of 2010, builders and operators often disregard safety protocols. Moreover, the lack of awareness and proactive involvement among residents and commercial operators in maintaining these lifts magnifies the problem. In many cases, lifts continue to operate without the proper documentation, a practice that has severe safety implications.
Under the Assam Lifts and Escalators Act, 2006, any commercial or residential establishment planning to install a lift is required to submit the necessary documentation to the Inspectorate of Lifts and Escalators. Only upon inspection and approval does the department issue an installation certificate and an operational certificate, allowing the lift to be legally operated. However, violations of this process are rampant across Guwahati.
In several cases, lifts are operational without either of these certifications, leaving users exposed to serious safety hazards. "It is akin to driving a car without the necessary papers,” an official from the Inspectorate remarked while speaking to GPlus. “Most users are unaware that the lifts they rely on every day are missing crucial safety checks.”
Even more concerning are instances where the installation of lifts is approved without the necessary architectural provisions. For example, in certain buildings, while an installation certificate for a lift may be issued, the original architectural drawing lacks a proper lift shaft. In such cases, the authority can deny operational permission, but such lapses often go unnoticed until a serious accident occurs.
The 2010 Rules further strengthened the safety protocols around lift installations, with a detailed focus on technical specifications, routine maintenance, and equipment upgrades. A vital requirement under these rules is the installation of safety mechanisms such as the Automatic Rescue Device (ARD), which enables users to exit safely during a power failure or mechanical breakdown by stopping the lift at the nearest floor. However, officials warn that many operators fail to install these safety features to cut costs.
According to industry practices, lift maintenance is typically handled by the manufacturing company or the builder/society responsible for the building. Maintenance is carried out on a tenure basis, and an Annual Maintenance Certificate (AMC) is supposed to be provided to the department to keep track of the operational safety of each lift.
However, lapses in this procedure are frequent, with numerous establishments failing to provide the necessary documents. Without the AMC, lifts continue to operate without regular safety checks, significantly increasing the risk of malfunction. In cases where the AMC is not submitted, the department is unable to account for the safety condition of the lifts, which places users in jeopardy.
This negligence is not without consequence. The Assam Lifts and Escalators Act, 2006, includes provisions for penalties in cases of non-compliance. The Act allows for the cancellation or suspension of a lift’s operational licence if the safety norms are not followed. Despite this, enforcement remains weak. In theory, the law provides adequate safeguards, but in practice, the shortage of manpower and the reactive approach to safety inspections hinder its full implementation.
While periodic inspections are mandated under both the 2006 Act and 2010 Rules, the Inspectorate of Lifts and Escalators is severely understaffed, making it difficult to carry out regular checks on the over 4,800 lifts operating in Guwahati alone. The result is that many lifts remain unchecked, and the actual number of lifts at risk of malfunction or posing safety hazards is unknown.
The department largely relies on complaints or reports of accidents before taking action. “Unless a complaint is filed or there’s a major incident, we simply don’t have the manpower to inspect every establishment,” said the official. He noted that while new buildings with lifts are generally accounted for, older buildings and smaller commercial establishments often operate lifts under the radar, without proper documentation or certification.
For the average resident or business owner, the operational safety of a lift often takes a back seat until a major accident occurs. Users are generally unaware of whether the lifts they are using have been properly inspected or if they are compliant with safety standards. This lack of awareness contributes to the continued use of lifts that may be unsafe or in serious need of repairs.
The official urged the public to take a more proactive stance: “It’s the users who need to be more vigilant. They should ask for the AMC and ensure the lift is regularly maintained. Just like one wouldn’t drive a car without knowing its condition, residents need to understand the importance of lift maintenance.”
Despite efforts to raise awareness, the department continues to face challenges. The lack of manpower is compounded by the sheer volume of buildings to inspect and the absence of sufficient resources to enforce penalties for non-compliance effectively. Several lifts, though discontinued by the department for safety reasons, remain operational due to the ignorance or negligence of residents.
The lift crisis in Guwahati is symptomatic of a larger problem. While laws like the Assam Lifts and Escalators Act of 2006 and the 2010 Rules provide a solid framework for ensuring safety, the implementation of these laws remains woefully inadequate. A shortage of manpower in the Inspectorate of Lifts and Escalators and a lack of public awareness contribute to the growing risk posed by poorly maintained lifts.
To prevent a major disaster, it is essential that the department ramps up its inspection efforts and imposes stricter penalties on violators. At the same time, builders and operators must be held accountable for the upkeep of the lifts, and the public must be educated on the importance of proper lift maintenance.
The existing loopholes in the system, if left unaddressed, will only worsen the situation. The failure to maintain lifts and ensure compliance with safety norms could lead to more accidents and even fatalities, making it critical for all stakeholders to act swiftly and decisively. Without immediate reforms, the lifts operating in Guwahati today will continue to pose a silent, yet growing, threat to public safety.
