The Government of West Bengal vide notification dated 10th January, 2020, has published the West Bengal Lifts, Escalators and Travelators Act, 2019 by repealing the old West Bengal Lifts and Escalators Act, 1955.
The Act regulates the installation, maintenance and safe working of lift and escalators and all machinery and apparatus pertaining in the state of west Bengal. The new act, in addition to the above, brings travelators within its ambit.
Travelator means a kind of escalator which is also known as moving walkway having angle of inclination normally within 10° and pallet width of minimum 800 mm and will follow the International Standards till any Indian Standard comes in force.
Key Highlights from the Notification:
Any licence for existing lifts, escalators or travelators working that had been granted by the Old Act will be deemed to be granted under the provisions of the New Act.
The owner of the premises who has been granted permission to install lift shall complete the same within 1 month. After installation such owner shall present the application for license to use the lift to the chief electrical inspector. On the receipt of the application, the chief electrical inspector shall either grant or refuse to grant a license.
Certificates for such existing lifts, escalators or travelators will continue to be valid up to the date mentioned in the license, but on expiry, it will have to be renewed as per provisions of the New Act.
Once the license is granted and after installation it shall be inspected by an inspector of lifts or by an officer authorized in this behalf by the state government at least once in every 5 year.
Click here to read the Notification.
