Maharashtra Notifies New Lift Safety Rules; Existing Lifts Must Install CCTV, ARD And OLPD By October 2027
Maharashtra has notified new safety rules for lifts, escalators and moving walks. The rules make monthly maintenance inspections compulsory and require existing lifts without CCTV, Automatic Rescue Devices and Overload Protection Devices to install these safety features by October 28, 2027.
Maharashtra has notified new safety rules for lifts, escalators and moving walks, making monthly maintenance inspections compulsory and requiring existing lifts to install CCTV and safety devices within one year.
The Maharashtra Government has notified the Maharashtra Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks Rules, 2026, introducing detailed requirements for the installation, maintenance, inspection and operation of lifts, escalators and moving walks across the state.
The Energy Department issued the notification on October 28, 2026, under Section 37 of the Maharashtra Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks Act, 2017. The rules were published in the Maharashtra Government Gazette, Extraordinary Part IV-B, as Notification No. CEI-2025/C.R.55/Energy-1.
Under the new rules, owners and licence holders must ensure that every lift, escalator and moving walk is inspected and maintained at least once a month by an approved contractor. The contractor must record the findings of these inspections in the prescribed logbook.
The rules also require periodic audits and tests according to the prescribed schedules. The equipment must be certified at least once a year, or at shorter intervals if directed by the Electrical Inspector. The inspection and test reports must be submitted to the Electrical Inspector.
Existing lifts given one year to install safety devices
One of the important requirements concerns the installation of safety equipment in lifts.
The rules require CCTV systems to be installed inside lift cars. Existing lifts that do not have CCTV, an Automatic Rescue Device (ARD) and an Overload Protection Device (OLPD) must be fitted with all three within one year from the notification date.
This gives owners of affected lifts until October 28, 2027, to complete the installations.
Restrictions on children and lift operators
The rules prohibit children below 12 years of age from using lifts, escalators or moving walks unless accompanied by an adult.
They also prohibit the appointment of anyone below 18 years of age as a lift operator. Lift operators must be physically and mentally fit and trained in the proper operation of the equipment.
Contractors must provide 24/7 emergency call service
The new rules prescribe detailed requirements for electrical contractors seeking approval to install and maintain lifts, escalators and moving walks.
Contractors must provide a 24/7 call-attendance service at their service centres to receive complaints and emergency calls from owners and respond promptly.
They must also establish additional service centres in cities or towns where more than 50 lifts, escalators or moving walks are under their maintenance, or where installations are located more than 100 km from their main office. The requirement is intended to ensure timely maintenance and emergency services.
The rules also specify qualifications and experience requirements for technical personnel employed by contractors, along with requirements for workshops, equipment, vehicles and maintenance teams.
Accidents must be reported within 24 hours
Owners or licence holders must report every accident involving a lift, escalator or moving walk to the Electrical Inspector and the local police station within 24 hours. The notification must be accompanied by a detailed accident report in the prescribed format.
The rules also provide for periodic inspections by the Electrical Inspector. Where repairs or alterations are required, the authorities can direct that the equipment be taken out of service until the necessary work is completed.
Lifts, escalators and moving walks that remain out of service for six months or longer for repairs or alterations cannot be put back into operation until the prescribed on-site tests have been carried out by an approved contractor.
The new framework also requires owners and licence holders to maintain equipment in accordance with applicable Indian standards and the relevant building and electrical safety regulations.
The Maharashtra Lifts, Escalators and Moving Walks Rules, 2026, provide the detailed procedures and technical requirements for implementing the state’s 2017 lift safety law. The parent Act also requires owners to maintain third-party insurance covering risks to passengers.
Jayant Mahajan is a writer and contributor at PuneNow, covering the intersection of technology, climate action, and urban governance across Pune. With an extensive background in business management, digital transformation, and academia, Jayant brings real-world insight to local sustainability issues, from civic infrastructure to smart city data ethics. As an educator and founder of the Change Before Climate Change mission, he focuses on how Pune’s institutions and businesses can build future-ready, sustainable systems. Through his columns, Jayant bridges policy, technology, and practical action to help Punekars navigate a rapidly changing urban climate.
