India’s Elevators and Escalators Market: Driven by Urban Vertical Growth

India’s elevators and escalators sector has rapidly emerged as a key player in the country’s urbanisation narrative. As of 2024, India has become the world’s second-largest market (after China) in this sector. This ascent mirrors India’s infrastructure boom. The country ranked 10th globally in the Global Quality Infrastructure Index (GQII) 2021, underlining India’s commitment to expanding both its physical and digital assets. In effect, elevators and escalators have become “the connective tissue of dense, efficient cities.” Modern high-rises, metros, airports and malls increasingly depend on these vertical transport systems to manage soaring footfalls and make tall buildings accessible.

With urban population expected to rise to nearly 40.8% by 2030 and hundreds of millions of new apartment and office units under construction, elevators have become fundamental infrastructure. The pandemic-era shift to remote work briefly slowed office construction, but long-term trends in urban density and commercial real estate are firmly upward.

Developments in elevators and escalators segment

Smart technology

Elevators in India are getting smarter faster than ever. What was once a bulky mechanical system is now a digitally connected device with advanced sensors and artificial intelligence (AI). Customers increasingly expect IoT-enabled features, predictive maintenance alerts, real-time usage dashboards, emergency calling via smartphone and even voice activation in some premium models. Developers, too, are demanding elevators that integrate with building management systems and green certifications. The industry has responded by making such “smart elevator” features standard rather than optional.

Innovations

• Touchless call panels and AI-driven traffic management (where software learns peak travel patterns) are becoming common in new projects.
• Regenerative drive systems, which capture and reuse energy when the cab descends, are now a given in major high-rises.

These changes are significant because elevators, despite occupying little space, typically account for 2–5% of a building’s energy use. Reducing that footprint has tangible environmental benefits. Indeed, KONE’s data shows its new machine-room-less (MRL) elevators can cut energy use by nearly 90% compared to similar models from the 1990s, and simply modernising old lifts yields ~70% savings. In practical terms, a 50-story tower installing modern energy-efficient lifts today can shave megawatts off its peak load, a boon in power-constrained cities.

Rapid adoption of these technologies is reshaping the market’s outlines. Today’s elevators in India often include touch screens, LED lighting, backup batteries and cloud connectivity as standard. In fact, one of India’s most famous engineering feats, the world’s largest passenger elevator (over 200-person capacity) in Mumbai’s Jio World Centre, was built with cutting-edge drive and suspension systems, underscoring how innovation is now seen as part of national pride. In short, Indian projects today don’t merely ask “can it lift us?” they also ask, “can it do so smartly, safely and sustainably?”

Sustainability and ESG in elevators

India’s 2070 net-zero goal is steering elevator makers and builders toward greener technologies and low-carbon innovations.

• Green goals and environmental, social and governance (ESG) principles have taken root in elevator design and deployment.
• Beyond regenerative drives and LEDs, this includes:
  • Solar-powered lift systems
  • Carbon-fibre ropes (lighter and more efficient)
  • Greener materials
• Original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) are highlighting these points:
  • Otis notes its India facilities use over 50% renewable energy in offices, and that local Research and Development (R&D) is now geared toward even lighter, more efficient elevator designs.
• KONE and others market:
  • “Sleep mode” functions that shut off cab systems during long idle periods
  • Motion-sensing lights that dim when no one is aboard
• The cumulative impact is measurable:
  • A modern lift can be 70–90% more efficient than an old one
  • An apartment block replacing just one of its aging elevators with a new eco-model can save tens of thousands of rupees annually in power
  • Such savings help justify the initial retrofit cost in financially stressed projects
• Cities themselves are encouraging these choices:
  • Some municipal green building codes now award credits for smart elevators or make them mandatory in new high-rises
• This policy support reinforces a positive feedback loop:
  • As developers shoot for LEED or IGBC certifications
  • Elevator sustainability features move from “nice to have” to baseline requirements
• Over time, this drive will translate into lower carbon emissions in the building sector overall, with India’s elevators playing a key role.

Workforce transformation in the elevator industry

India’s elevators and escalators market boom is not just about machines and steel; it is also reshaping the workforce and skill landscape. Traditionally, elevator installation and maintenance were labour-intensive trades focused on mechanical skills; crews of technicians armed with spanners and wire cutters. Now, this profile is evolving to require mechatronics, information technology (IT) and data analysis abilities, creating new opportunities for India’s talent pool. Elevator companies report rising demand for roles such as IoT specialists, software engineers and data analysts alongside conventional technicians. Maintenance staff today might interface with a lift’s control system via a tablet, run diagnostic software, or interpret data on a cloud dashboard. As elevators get “smarter,” the people servicing them must also get smarter. The industry is thus spawning high-value jobs that blend mechanical knowledge with digital savvy.

Recognising this, both industry and government have invested in reskilling and training. Many Industrial Training Institutes (ITIs) and polytechnic colleges are updating their curricula to cover elevator electronics, programmable logic controllers (PLCs) and other advanced skills. Meanwhile, major OEMs are partnering with institutes and launching in-house academies. For example, some companies sponsor specialised courses in elevator technology and run apprenticeship programs to create a pipeline of “future-proof” talent. Otis India even uses simulators to train technicians on digital elevator systems.

The scale of workforce needs is significant. India installs over 60,000 new elevators every year, each requiring reliable service for decades. As even mid-range projects adopt semi-smart elevators, new jobs increasingly call for tech-savvy candidates instead of purely mechanical technicians. This is an opportunity to leverage India’s young workforce and even to export skilled elevator professionals to other countries facing talent gaps. Elevator companies are aligning their workforce strategies with their product roadmaps. They know a new AI-enabled elevator is only as good as the service network behind it, so continuous upskilling of employees is crucial. Many firms now run in-house training for existing staff, a veteran technician might learn basic coding or sensor calibration mid-career to stay relevant. As one executive quipped, “today our maintenance crew’s toolkit has both spanners and software.”

Innovation in escalators and elevators segment

India is even home to record-breaking innovation. The world’s largest passenger elevator (capable of carrying over 200 people) was installed at Mumbai’s Jio World Centre, featuring state-of-the-art drive systems and interactive displays. Once considered a luxury, advanced elevator technology is now viewed as a must-have in new developments.

Even mid-tier residential towers advertise features such as app-based elevator control or voice-assisted operation as selling points. Crucially, this tech transformation is not just for show, it improves safety and efficiency.

Self-diagnostic-type elevators give an alert to technicians whenever a certain part needs replacement or when an unusual vibration is detected, further reducing the likelihood of abrupt failures. AI traffic management anticipates peak hours (say, post-5 PM rush) and pre-positions elevator cars, reducing waiting time. For building owners, such innovations translate to glories and even energy savings. Most new elevators today feature regenerative drives and energy-efficient motors by default. These installations provide energy feedback to the building when elevator cabs go down. A few state-of-the-art systems employ 30% less power than those installed a decade ago, thus very much reducing the carbon footprint of high-rises in the area.

Rise of Tier-2 and Tier-3 markets

While megacities such as Mumbai, Delhi, Bengaluru and Chennai have traditionally led demand for elevators and escalators, the next chapter of growth is being written in India’s Tier-2 and Tier-3 cities. State capitals such as Lucknow and Jaipur, and fast-growing hubs such as Indore, Surat, Kochi and Coimbatore are experiencing construction booms of their own often featuring mid-rise and even high-rise developments that were rare ten years ago. Where a city such as Bhubaneswar or Vadodara might not have seen a building taller than five to six floors a decade ago, now 15–20 story towers are rising. Every such structure creates demand for elevators (and often escalators in commercial buildings). Industry reports indicate roughly half of new elevator installations in India now come from outside the top eight metros, a dramatic shift from the past.

Serving these smaller cities comes with unique challenges and opportunities. Cost sensitivity is very important; developers and customers in Tier-2/3 cities want modern amenities but often select basic elevator models that simply get the job done reliably. In response, elevator manufacturers have developed scalable designs that can easily be upsold to meet the demands of more luxurious projects. For example, manufacturers offer simpler cabin interiors and fewer luxury features while still maintaining core performance and safety.

Infrastructure variability is another issue. Smaller towns often suffer power outages, so elevators there commonly include voltage stabilisers and battery-backed rescue devices to prevent passengers from ever being trapped. Companies also tailor maintenance packages for these areas, using IoT remote monitoring to supplement less frequent on-site visits. Many firms have expanded their service networks to dozens of cities, ensuring even a Tier-3 town gets timely support.

These markets are also spurring new business approaches. Some manufacturers offer financing schemes; instalment payment plans or elevator leasing to help cash-strapped developers afford quality equipment. In many ways, smaller cities are advancing to the latest technology, new malls and airports in Tier-2 cities are being outfitted with state-of-the-art escalators and elevators, since they are being built fresh without legacy constraints. Local authorities, learning from metros, enforce elevator safety from day one (often no building is occupied until its lifts are certified).

Expanding into the heartland has forced the industry to localise at scale, meeting diverse needs across dozens of regional markets. Smaller cities are not just passive customers. Instead, their demands have spurred innovations such as simpler bilingual controls and more rugged elevator designs that can even be exported to similar markets abroad. Companies that get in early in these growth centres stand to gain as today’s Tier-2 towns swell into tomorrow’s metropolises.

Outlook: Smart, green, inclusive growth

Looking ahead, three forces will shape the elevator industry’s trajectory: AI-driven automation, relentless sustainability demands and India’s continuing infrastructure boom. As buildings become more instrumented, elevators will take on an ever-greater role in data-driven building management. For instance, machine learning may soon optimise traffic flow in entire elevator banks, learning of a sudden crowd on the lobby at lunchtime or a conference exit rush. At the same time, environmental regulations will make energy-efficient systems non-negotiable. No high-rise will be built in India in five years without stating its elevator’s carbon performance.

Ultimately, India’s elevator market reflects the country’s own ambitions. As India eyes a Rs. 23,36,85,000 crore (US$ 26 trillion) economy by 2047, vertical mobility solutions are indispensable for creating the dense, efficient cities of the future. The current growth is not just in numbers, but in purpose: from the new compact skyscraper booming in a Tier-2 hub to the smart elevator card swiped in a luxury condominium, the focus is on people-centred, sustainable design. Manufacturers and policymakers alike see that true success will be measured not only by units sold but by how well elevators integrate into urban life – serving as low-carbon, inclusive connectors that make everyday city life smoother for millions.

In summary, India’s vertical mobility sector is riding a wave of policy support, technological innovation and rising consumer expectations. Major players such as Otis, KONE, Schindler and Johnson Lifts are expanding local capacity and tailoring products to this market. As urban skylines soar, elevators and escalators will continue being the unsung pillars of that growth, quietly carrying millions of passengers and carrying India’s cities into the future in a smarter and greener way.