UP Lift and Escalator Act: Registration delay will lead to heavy fines, says DM

GREATER NOIDA: The Gautam Budh Nagar government on Tuesday announced strict rules for the safety of lifts and escalators under the new Uttar Pradesh Lift and Escalator Act 2024 and associated rules that will require all existing lift and escalator owners to register their equipment.

At a meeting on Tuesday, officials outlined significant fines and possible closures for owners who failed to register their elevators and escalators by certain deadlines.

“Ensuring the safety and proper maintenance of elevators and escalators in high-rise buildings, shopping centers and offices is our top priority. Through the UP Lift and Escalator Act, we strive to enforce strict compliance. Owners who delay registration or neglect safety measures will face significant penalties, including possible closures,” said Manish Kumar Verma, the district magistrate.

“These regulations are essential for public safety, and regular monitoring will help maintain accountability of all operators in the district,” he added.

Officials said Section 10 of the law specifies that elevators and escalators already in use in the state must complete the registration process within six months of the law’s implementation. If operators do not meet this deadline, they will face increasingly higher fines.

Officials said that under the new guidelines, a delay of up to seven days will attract a fine of ₹100 per day. Delays of 7 to 15 days will result in a fine of €5. ₹200 per day for the entire period and a delay of 15 to 30 days will pick up ₹500 daily fine.

In cases where the delay exceeds 30 days, the authorities are authorized to immediately close the elevator or escalator in question, with an additional fine of ₹10,000. Reoperation is only allowed if all legal requirements have been met and the full fine has been paid, she added.

It is fair to say that the implementation of the Uttar Pradesh Lift and Escalator Rules 2024 came into effect on September 25, 2024.

In addition, the law requires elevator and escalator operators to keep a logbook documenting any accidents. The logbook, in accordance with Rule 9, must be kept up to date and made available to the county commission upon request for monitoring purposes, officials said.

“These measures are critical to holding operators accountable and protecting residents and visitors across all facilities,” the DM said.

Earlier this month, the DM had formed a five-member safety committee to monitor and review the safety and functioning of lifts and escalators in high-rise buildings in Gautam Budh Nagar.

The committee is tasked with conducting routine inspections, monitoring compliance with safety regulations and submitting quarterly reports on the condition of elevators and escalators in societies, malls and commercial facilities, officials said.