Bengaluru: Nearly half of Bengaluru residents surveyed said they or a family member had been trapped in a lift at least once over the past year, highlighting growing concerns about elevator safety in the city’s rapidly expanding high-rise residential complexes.
The findings come from a Local Circles survey conducted among 7,262 respondents, released shortly after the Supreme Court’s landmark ruling holding manufacturers, maintenance agencies and building owners jointly responsible for lift safety.
Survey highlights frequent lift failures
According to the survey, 26 per cent of respondents said they had been stuck in a lift once or twice during the past year, while 5 per cent reported experiencing the problem three or more times. About 49 per cent said they had never encountered such an incident.
The survey also examined maintenance practices in residential buildings. Around 33 per cent of respondents said lifts in their complexes were maintained by manufacturers through an Annual Maintenance Contract (AMC), while 38 per cent relied on third-party contractors. Another 18 per cent said maintenance was handled by apartment staff, and 11 per cent reported that repairs were carried out only after faults occurred, without any regular maintenance schedule.
Confidence in lift safety remains low
Residents also expressed mixed confidence in the safety of elevators. Only 34 per cent said they were “very confident” about the condition of lifts in their buildings, while 26 per cent were “somewhat confident”. Alarmingly, 40 per cent said they lacked confidence in the safety of the lifts they use.
The survey follows the Supreme Court’s July 29 ruling, which classified elevators as “common carriers”, making lift manufacturers, maintenance agencies and building owners jointly accountable for passenger safety in the event of accidents.
Experts have also pointed out that every lift in Karnataka must be licensed by the Electrical Inspectorate and have its licence renewed every two years. However, many establishments allegedly continue operating lifts without timely licence renewals or proper maintenance, increasing safety risks.
The findings have renewed calls for stricter inspections, regular maintenance and stronger enforcement to ensure the safety of residents using elevators across Bengaluru.