The Andhra Pradesh Lifts and Escalators Act, 2025

1.

1. (1) This Act may be called the Andhra Pradesh Lifts and Escalators Act, 2025.
2. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Andhra Pradesh.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Andhra Pradesh Gazette, appoint.

2. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires:

1. (1) "Appointed Day" means the day which the State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint;
2. (2) "AMC" means Annual Maintenance Contract;
3. (3) "Authorised Officer" means Chief Inspector of Lifts and Escalators or such other officer as may be authorized by the State Government by notification;
4. (4) "Automatic Rescue Device" or "ARD" means a device that operates automatically in case of failure or loss of power supply, provided that the safety circuit is intact, to enable the lift to move to the nearest landing and open the landing and lift cage doors simultaneously;
5. (5) "Baluster" means a short pillar slender above and bulging below;
6. (6) "Balustrade" means a part of escalator or moving walk which ensures the users safety by providing stability, protecting from moving parts and supporting the handrail. And also means barricades on top of elevator car to prevent fall hazard;
7. (7) "Chief Inspector of Lifts and Escalators" means an Officer appointed as such by the Government as referred to in section 15;
8. (8) "Comb Plate" means a prolonged plate that forms part of an escalator landing and engages with the cleats of the steps at the limits of travel;
9. (9) "Emergency Rescue Device" means an electronic and electric apparatus which provides 3-phase emergency power supply to the lift, in case of power failure/breakdown in the high rise buildings as per NBC and gives sufficient backup to the lift to land, stop and open the landing and lift cage doors at any floor and remain in regular operation up to the extended time which would be at least fifteen minutes;
10. (10) "Escalator" means a power driven inclined, continuous stairway used for raising or lowering passengers;
11. (11) "Escalator Installation" means an installation which includes the escalator, the operating mechanism, the track, trusses or girders, balustrades, step treads, landings and all chains, wires and plants directly connected with the operation of the Escalator;
12. (12) "Government" means the State Government of Andhra Pradesh;
13. (13) "Inspector of Lifts and Escalators" means an Officer appointed as such by the Government as referred to in section 15;
14. (14) "License" means License granted under section 4;
15. (15) "Lift" Means an equipment designed to safely carry passengers or goods or both, that moves between guide rails in substantially vertical direction, equipped with hoisting and lowering mechanism with electric traction or hydraulic drive serving defined landing levels, suspended by ropes or belts or jacks;
16. (16) "Lift Car" means the cage or car of a lift used for the conveyance of passengers or goods or both or automobiles. It includes the floor or platform, car frame, sling and enclosing body work including roof and doors;
17. (17) "Lift Installation" includes the lift car, the lift well, it's operating mechanism, all ropes or belts, cables, wires, safety provisions, plant and machinery directly connected with operation of lift;
18. (18) "Lift Well" means the shaft or hoist way in which lift car and the counter weight or balancing weights travels. The space is usually bounded by the bottom of the pit, the walls and the ceiling of the well;
19. (19) "Lift Well Enclosure" includes any permanent substantial structure surrounding or enclosing the lift well;
20. (20) "Owner" includes
    • (i) a Lessee;
    • (ii) a Licensee;
    • (iii) a Mortgagee in possession and;
    • (iv) any person or authority to whom or to which the possession of and control over the affairs of the place in which a Lift or Escalator have been erected and work has been entrusted whether such person or authority is called a Managing Trustee, an agent, a correspondent, Manager, Superintendent, Secretary, President or Supervisor of the Premises or by any other name whatsoever;
21. (21) "Power" means any form of energy which is not generated by human or animal agency;
22. (22) "Premises" means any structure, whether temporary or permanent, where a lift or escalator is installed;
23. (23) "Prescribed" means prescribed by Rules made under this Act;
24. (24) "Private Premises" means any residential house comprising no more than a ground floor and two additional floors, with or without a basement, used solely for residential/habitation purpose by an individual and/or their family members. Such premises shall exclude commercial properties, multi-unit residential buildings, and any structures utilized for business, commercial, or public purposes;
25. (25) "Public Premises" means all premises which are not "Private Premises";
26. (26) "Registration" means registering of any Manufacturer or Makers of Lift or Escalator or any other person intending to erect/ install and /or to maintain the Lift or Escalator already installed within the State of Andhra Pradesh with the Chief Inspector of Lifts;
27. (27) "Registered Person" means any manufacturer or maker of Lifts or Escalators or any other person registered in accordance with section 12 of this Act and also includes any other person who is intending to carry out the business of erecting and/or installing and /or maintaining Lifts and Escalators already installed within the State of Andhra Pradesh;
28. (28) "Rules" means rules made under the Act;
29. (29) "Supplier" means any generating company or licensee under the Electricity Act, 2003 from whose system electricity flows in to the system of another generating company or licensee or consumer; and
30. (30) "Travel (Rise)" means the vertical distance between the bottom and top terminal floor levels of a lift or escalator measured in meters.

3.

1. (1) Every owner of a place intending to install a Lift or an escalator in any premise after the commencement of this Act, shall make an application in such a form as may be prescribed giving full details or information to such officer as the State Government may authorize in this behalf. Such application shall specify: A. Lift Installation:
   • (a) The type of Lift;
   • (b) The rated maximum speed of the Lift designed to operate;
   • (c) The manufacturers rated capacity in Kilograms;
   • (d) The maximum number of passengers in addition to the Lift operator which the Lift can carry;
   • (e) The total weight of the Lift car carrying the maximum load;
   • (f) The weight of the counter weight;
   • (g) The number, description, and size of traction media ;
   • (h) Such details of the construction of the overhead arrangement with weight and sizes of the beams as may be prescribed; and
     • (i) Such other particulars (pit depth, overhead height and travel height) as may be prescribed. B. Escalator Installation:
   • (a) The Type of the Escalator;
   • (b) The speed at which the Escalator is designed to operate;
   • (c) Angle of inclination;
   • (d) The width between balustrades;
   • (e) The details of handrails, step treads, landing comb plates, trusses or girders and step wheel tracks;
   • (f) The rated load ;
   • (g) The number of persons per hour with rated load;
   • (h) The factor of safety based on the static loads in the Escalator;
     • (i) The Travel
   • (Rise) in metre; and
   • (j) Such other particulars as may be prescribed.
2. (2) Every application for issue of erection or installation permission shall be accompanied by such fee as may be prescribed.
3. (3) On receipt of such application along with fee paid treasury challan, the authorized officer shall, after making such enquiry and requiring the applicant to furnish such information as may be necessary and may there upon either register or refuse to register the permission to erect or install Lift and Escalator and registration number shall be generated to be shared with the applicant. Such permission shall be valid only for a period of Eighteen (18 ) months for buildings up to 15 meters in height and Twenty Four
4. (24) months for high rise buildings from the date on which it is granted.
5. (4) In case if the erection of Lift or Escalator is not completed within the period of validity of permission, the same shall be got renewed by submitting the application along with the fee for the same period.
6. (5) No person, who is also the owner of Lift or Escalator, shall get his Lift or Escalator erected or installed without getting erection or installation permission from the Authorized Officer.
7. (6) No person, who is the owner of Lift or Escalator, shall get his Lift or Escalator erected by the manufacturer or maker of Lift or Escalator or any other person other than those who is registered with the Chief Inspector of Lifts and Escalators.

4.

1. (1) Every owner of a place, who is permitted to erect a Lift or Escalator under section 3, shall get his Lift or Escalator installed as per the existing relevant code of practices of Bureau of Indian Standards and Central Electricity Authority (Measures relating to Safety and Electric Supply) Regulations. All materials and apparatus used shall confirm to the relevant specifications of the Bureau of Indian Standards or International Electro-Technical Commission or National Building Code or National Electrical Code where such specifications have already been laid down.
2. (2) Every owner of a place who is permitted to erect a Lift or Escalator under section 3, Shall, within one month after the completion of the erection of such Lift or Escalator, deliver or send or cause to be delivered or sent to the authorized officer, a notice in writing of such completion and shall make an application to him for a license for working or use of the Lift or Escalator as the case may be.
3. (3) Application for a license made under sub-section
4. (1) shall be in such form as may be prescribed.
5. (4) The inspection fee as may be prescribed by the Government shall be paid along with such application.
6. (5) On receipt of such application along with prescribed fee in the form of challan, the authorized officer after making such enquiry and inspection either grant subject to conditions specified in this Act or rules made thereunder or refuse to grant the license for the reasons to be recorded in writing. Provided that where the authorized officer refuses to grant the License, shall give a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the applicant.
7. (6) Except for the purpose of tests, supply of electricity shall not be arranged to the Lift or Escalator without obtaining the license from the authorized officer.
8. (7) No person who is the owner or erector of the lift or escalator shall be used the Lift or Escalator without obtaining the license from the authorized officer.

5.

1. (1) Not withstanding anything contained in sections 3 and 4, every owner of a place in which a Lift or Escalator has been installed before the date of commencement of this Act, shall within Twelve months from the date of the commencement of this Act, apply for such authorised officers in this behalf for a license for the working of such Lift or Escalator on a prescribed format along with prescribed fee.
2. (2) If, every owner of a place in which a Lift or Escalator has been installed before the date of commencement of this Act, fails to apply for a license for the working of such Lift or Escalator on a prescribed format within Twelve months, shall pay the Late fee in addition to the normal fee as prescribed.

6. Unless any addition or alteration is made to the Lift or Escalator, every license shall be valid for a period of Five years from the date on which it is granted. Before the expiry of the period of license, the license shall be got renewed.

Lift or Escalator not to be operated without a license 7.

Suspension or cancellation of license of Lift or Escalator 8. If the licensee has contravened any of the provisions of the Act or Rules, or any of the terms and conditions of the License or directions given to him, the Authorised Officer may, after giving a reasonable opportunity of being heard, suspend or cancel the license of Lift and Escalator for such period as he thinks fit to cancel it.

9. No addition or alterations other than those required to be made under sub-section

1. (2) of section 10, shall be made to any Lift or Escalator installation except with the previous permission in writing of the authorized officer.

10.

1. (1) The authorized officer may at any time after giving reasonable notice to the occupant enter upon any building in which a Lift or Escalator, is installed or is being installed or in connection with which an application for a license has been received or otherwise for the purpose of inspecting the Lift or Escalator installation or the site thereof.
2. (2) If on such inspection, the authorized officer or the Inspector of Lifts and Escalators is of the opinion that any Lift or Escalator in any building is in an unsafe condition, he may issue an order, on the owner of the building or his agent appointed under sub-section
3. (2) of section 13 requiring such repairs or alterations to be made to such Lift or Escalator as he may deem necessary within the time specified therein and may also, if necessary, order the use of such Lift or Escalator therein to be discontinued until such repairs or alternations are made or such unsafe conditions are removed.
4. (3) Notwithstanding any appeal made under sub-section
5. (2) of section 14, any order to discontinue the use of a Lift or Escalators made by the authorised officer or Inspector of Lifts or Escalators under sub-section
6. (2) of this section shall be complied with unless the Appellate Authority has reversed such order.

12.

1. (1) No person shall engage in the business of erection or installation or periodical testing and maintenance of Lift or Escalator unless he gets registration for Three
2. (3) years initially and such registration shall be renewed for every Three
3. (3) years thereafter with the Chief Inspector of Lifts and Escalators. Provided, the manufacturing units shall be registered only on ensuring the inspection facility complying with the Bureau of Indian Standards or National Building Code or National Electrical Code where such

1. (1) Where any accident occurs in the operation of any Lift or Escalator which results or is likely to have resulted in loss of human life or injury to any person, the owner of the building in which the Lift or Escalator is working or if such owner has appointed an agent and has communicated his name to the inspector under sub-section
2. (3) such agent, shall within 48 hours after such accident, give notice in such form and in such manner as may be prescribed, with full details of the accident to the authorized officer and also to the Commissioner of Police and the District Magistrate or such other officer as the State Government may, by order, specify and the Lift or Escalator installation shall not be interfered within any manner and the working of such Lift or Escalator shall not be resumed except with the written permission of the Chief Inspector of Lifts and Escalators.
3. (2) For the purpose of sub-section (1), the owner of every building in which a Lift or Escalator has been installed may, and if such owner does not reside in such building shall, appoint an agent who shall be a resident in town or village in which the building is situated, to give notice of any accident occurring in the operation of lift or escalator..
4. (3) The name of every agent appointed under sub-section
5. (2) shall be communicated to the Authorized Officer.
6. (4) Where any accident occurs in the operations of any Lift or Escalator, such accidents shall be investigated by such authorised officer as may be notified by the Government and he shall submit the investigation report to the Chief Inspector of Lifts and Escalators and to the Government.

14.

1. (1) In case of any dispute between Owner or Agent of Lift and Escalator, and the registered person with regards to quality of work and material used may appeal to the Chief Inspector of Lifts and Escalators within 30 days of such dispute,
2. (2) Any person aggrieved by an order of any Authorized Officer under this Act may within 30 days from the date of such order, appeal to Chief Inspector of Lifts and Escalators.
3. (3) Any person aggrieved by an order of Chief Inspector of Lifts and Escalators made under sub-section
4. (1) and sub-section
5. (2) above or regarding registration under section 12, within 30 days from the date of such order, may appeal to the Government in such manner along with such fee as may be prescribed. The decision of the Government on appeal shall be final and shall not be called in question in any Court.
6. (4) The Appellate Authority shall dispose of the Appeal, after giving both parties to the appeal a reasonable opportunity of being heard and pass such orders thereon as it thinks fit and proper.

15.

1. (1) The Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, appoint persons duly qualified as Chief Electrical Inspector or Electrical Inspector under the Electricity Act, 2003 from the Department of Directorate of Electrical Safety to be;
   • (A) the Chief Inspector of Lifts and Escalators;
   • (B) the Inspector of Lifts and Escalators.
2. (2) The Chief Inspector of Lifts and Escalators or the Inspector of Lifts and Escalators so

16.

1. (1) Every Lift or Escalator shall be inspected at such intervals, by such Authorized Officer, as may be prescribed in this behalf by the Government.
2. (2) Inspection fee charged for such inspection shall be at such rate as may be prescribed.
3. (3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), the owner of a building in which Lift or Escalator is installed, shall get his Lift or Escalator maintained by any registered person once in Two
4. (2) months, and a register shall be kept containing such particulars of every such Examination as may be prescribed and shall submit copy of annual testing and maintenance report along with fitness certificate to the authorized officer of Lifts and Escalators.

17.

1. (1) Every owner of Lift or Escalator who has registered under section 3 and has completed commissioning of the Lifts and Escalators and intimated the same under section 4, shall ensure the following:
   • (a) He shall ensure that the lift or Escalator in his premise is maintained on a regular periodic interval as specified in sub-section
2. (3) of section 16. He shall compulsorily take comprehensive AMC from the Manufacturer or Maker or other person registered under section 12.
   • (b) He shall submit every year a copy of the AMC for his Lift or Escalator or any other arrangement made for the maintenance of Lifts and Escalators to such officers as the Government may authorize in this behalf on a prescribed format. Provided that for the Lifts or Escalators commissioned in private premises, the owner shall not be required to submit the copy of the AMC every year.
   • (c) He shall ensure that the Lift or Escalator is maintained by the manufacturer or maker or other person registered under section 12 once in two months.
   • (d) He shall take a fitness certificate from the AMC technical team every time the technical team visits for maintenance or attending to any fault and the entry to this effect shall be made by the AMC technical team in the logbook for periodic maintenance.
   • (e) He shall also ensure that any technical fault coming up during day-to-day operations, are attended promptly. Till such technical fault is attended, it shall be obligatory on part of the owner to place a visible display for "NOT IN USE" of the Lift or Escalator.
   • (f) A logbook of periodic maintenance shall be maintained and displayed near lift or escalator installed in Public Premises and the same shall be produced when asked by any such officers as the Government may authorize in this behalf.
   • (g) A mock drill exercise shall be taken up at least once in a year by the owner or his authorized person along with the AMC Technical team for safe exit of passengers trapped inside the Lift in case of an emergency.
   • (h) Any dispute, controversy or claim between the Owner of Lift or Escalator, arises out of or in connection with annual maintenance contract, including the existence, breach, termination or validity thereof, the seat of arbitration shall be in the State of Andhra Pradesh.
     • (i) It shall be the responsibility of the Owner of the Lifts and Escalators to maintain and operate the Lifts and Escalators in a condition free from danger and as recommended by the Manufacturer or by the relevant Standards.

18. (1)

1. (i) The owner shall ensure the provision of installation of an automatic rescue device and emergency rescue device for high rise buildings (as per NBC) excluding group housing, domestic or any other building to rescue the travelling passengers trapped in the Lift and to avoid any jerks in the event of break down of power supply by bringing the Lift to near /any floor, stopping the Lift and keeping the landing and Lift cage doors open.
2. (ii) The owner shall have to provide an automatic rescue device or emergency rescue device or both for group housing, domestic or any other building to rescue the travelling passengers trapped in the Lift in the event of break down of power supply by bringing the Lift to nearest /any floor, stopping the Lift and keeping the landing and Lift cage doors open, as the case may be.
3. (iii) There shall be adequate light in the Lift and two way communication system to be used by the passenger and emergency bell inside the Lift to be used in case of any emergency. There shall be a display of instructions for the passengers about how to use the emergency provisions in the Lift. Provided that CCTV camera shall be installed in all Lifts installed in public Premises.

1. (2) The Owner shall make arrangements to provide for alternate automatic power supply system to ensure the functioning of the Lift in the event of breakdown of power supply within a period of 30 seconds.

In case of Public Premises, the owner shall take insurance mandatorily to cater adequately to any accidents or mishaps during operations of the Lift or Escalator to cover the risk of passengers using such Lift or Escalator and the amount payable to the deceased or injured must be commensurate to the norms prescribed by the Government.

20.

Offences by Companies 21.

1. (1) Where an offence punishable under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who, at the time of the offence was committed, was in charge of, and was responsible to, the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company, shall be deemed to be guilty of the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly. Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment provided in this Act, if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
2. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section
3. (1) where any offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of or is attributable to any neglect on the part of, any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also, be deemed to be guilty of that offence and shall be liable to be prosecuted and punished accordingly. Explanation:- For the purposes of this section.
   • (a) "Company" means anybody corporate and includes a firm, or other association of individuals; and
   • (b) "Director" in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.

22.

Violations and Penalty 23. Whoever contravenes any of the provisions of this Act, rules or the terms and conditions of a license or registration or a direction given by such Officer as the Government may authorize under this Act or the rules shall be punishable with fine not exceeding Ten thousand rupees and, in the case of continuing contravention, with an additional fine which may extend to two hundred rupees for every day during which such contravention continues after conviction for the first such contravention.

24.

1. (1) Every notice, order or other document required or authorized to be addressed by or under this Act shall be deemed to be properly addressed to the owner of the place (naming the place) and may be served by post or mail.
   • (a) where a local authority is the addressee, at the office of the local authority;
   • (b) where a company is the addressee, the registered office of the company or, in the event of the registered office of the company not being in India, at the principal place of business of the company in India; and
   • (c) where any other person is the addressee, at the usual or last known place of abode or business of the person.

25.

Power to remove difficulties 26. If any difficulty arises in giving effect to the provisions of this Act, the Government may, by an order published in the Andhra Pradesh Government Gazette, make such provisions not inconsistent with the provisions of this Act, which appears to them to be necessary or expedient for the purpose of removing the difficulty.

Power to make rules 27.

1. (1) The State Government may, by notification in the official Gazette, make rules either prospectively or retrospectively for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.
2. (2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing provisions, such rules may be made for all or any of the following matters, namely,-
   • (a) the specifications for Lifts or Escalators;
   • (b) the manner in which erection plans of Lifts or Escalators shall be submitted;
   • (c) the manner in which Lifts and Escalators may be tested;
   • (d) the form of application for permission to erect a Lift or Escalator under sub-section
3. (1) of section 3;
   • (e) the form in which an application for license shall be made and the fee which shall accompany such application under sub-section
4. (2) of section 4;
   • (f) the form in which and the terms and conditions on which the license may be granted for the working of a Lift or an Escalator under sub-section
5. (4) of section 4;
   • (g) the form in which an application for renewal of license shall be made and the fee which shall accompany such application under section 6;
   • (h) the manner of serving notice to be given under section 24;
     • (i) the form and the manner in which notice of accident shall be given under sub-section
6. (1) of section 13; and
   • (j) any other matter which is required to be, or may be prescribed.
7. (3) All rules made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be, after it is made, before the House of the State Legislature, while it is in session, if the house agree in making any modification in the rule or the House agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect as the case may be, so however any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.

28. Nothing in this Act shall apply to installation and working of any Lift or Escalator :

1. (i) In any mine within the meaning of the Mines Act, 1952 ;
2. (ii) To which the provisions of the Factories Act, 1948 apply ;
3. (iii) In the premises of Central Government or its Undertakings;
4. (iv) In the premises owned or controlled by the Public Works Department of the Government of Andhra Pradesh;
5. (v) To which the provisions of Bureau of Indian Standards for Home Lifts at private premises, apply; and
6. (vi) In any premises or any class or sub-class of elevating device as the State Government may, by notification, exempt.

29. Nothing contained in this Act shall effect the provisions of the Electricity Act, 2003 or any rules or regulations made there under.