{
  "id": 2269644,
  "title": "Mumbai: Railway Station Escalators To Restart In 2 Minutes After Breakdown Under New System; Manufacturers To Ensure 15-Year Maintenance",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/08/21/mumbai-railway-station-escalators-to-restart-in-2-minutes-after",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-08-21T01:00:41.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Free Press Journal",
    "slug": "free-press-journal",
    "url": "https://www.freepressjournal.in/mumbai/mumbai-railway-station-escalators-to-restart-in-2-minutes-after-breakdown-under-new-system-manufacturers-to-ensure-15-year-maintenance"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Mumbai's railway stations will soon see a significant improvement in escalator reliability, with new systems promising to bring broken escalators back to life within two minutes, down from an average of 25 minutes. This new system, adhering to Bureau of Indian Standards, aims to minimize passenger inconvenience, especially for vulnerable groups like senior citizens, women, and those with disabilities.\n\nThe Railway Board has also mandated a minimum 15-year maintenance period by manufacturers post-warranty for new escalators, a directive issued on August 13 following revised standards from the Research Designs and Standards Organisation (RDSO) on January 16. Older escalators not covered by the new system will receive one-time repairs by railway contractors, followed by a minimum seven-year maintenance package from manufacturers.\n\nTo ensure seamless upkeep, Western Railway has launched a dedicated portal to monitor escalator maintenance, expanding the initiative across all Indian Railways. Inspections will follow RDSO guidelines, with both manufacturer and railway representatives verifying compliance. Regular maintenance contracts will also ensure staff availability at critical locations. These measures are designed to enhance escalator reliability, reduce breakdowns, and improve the overall passenger experience at busy railway stations.",
  "summary": "Mumbai, August 20, 2026: Railway station escalators could restart within two minutes after a breakdown, under a new system being introduced to reduce downtime and improve passenger convenience. At present, an escalator stopped using the emergency-stop button can take around 25 minutes to restart, according to Western Railway officials. The new system, based on standards approved by the Bureau of…",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}