In an exclusive interaction with H&B Magazine, Mr. RUSHAD DIVECHA, Managing Director of EROS GROUP, shares his perspective on the evolving role of vertical transportation in shaping India’s urban landscape. Backed by over 35 years of industry experience and leading a company with a legacy spanning nearly eight decades, he discusses why elevators should be considered an integral part of building design from the earliest planning stages. The conversation explores lifecycle planning, sustainability, climate resilience, technological innovation, and human-centric mobility, offering valuable insights into the trends shaping the next generation of high-rise developments.
Q. As Indian cities become more densely populated, how must the specification of vertical transportation evolve beyond the traditional approach?
The industry has historically treated the elevator as a finishing touch rather than a core circulatory system. In the context of hyper-density, this is a critical failure. We need to move from rudimentary “one-size-fits-all” calculations to sophisticated traffic flow analysis that accounts for peak-hour loads and future capacity demands. Furthermore, the conversation around accessibility must shift from compliance to true inclusivity; it must be a design imperative from day one, ensuring that mobility is seamless for all demographics.
Q. Post-pandemic, hygiene and accessibility are reshaping design. What is the new baseline for modern buildings?
The pandemic permanently shifted touchless technology from a premium upgrade to a baseline expectation. Full-height infrared sensors, cabin air purification, and hands-free communication are now essential specifications. For the existing building stock, the challenge is retrofitting. Modular modernization packages allow developers to integrate these features without a complete overhaul, ensuring that the elevator evolves with the new standards of safety and well-being.
Q. Regulatory fragmentation across states poses significant challenges. How do you navigate this complexity without compromising project timelines?
Compliance must be treated as a structural discipline, not an administrative afterthought. The nuances of fire evacuation codes, NBC shaft requirements, and state-specific safety norms are often too complex to retrofit. The key lesson from landmark urban developments is the necessity of engaging mobility experts at the concept stage. This proactive approach prevents costly mid-construction rework and ensures that the building’s circulatory system is legally and structurally sound from the ground up.
Q. As the industry focuses on sustainability, how do you balance the decision between modernizing existing systems and full replacement?
Lifecycle thinking is the bedrock of sustainability. When a shaft is structurally sound and the system is 15–20 years old, modernization almost always wins. It delivers the performance of a new elevator via gearless drives and VVVF regenerative controls at a fraction of the cost and with significantly lower embodied carbon. The decision should always be preceded by a rigorous technical audit, ensuring that we are extending the life of assets rather than adding to the construction waste stream.
Q. High-rises are increasingly “vertical villages.” What planning principles ensure elevators enhance community experience rather than create bottlenecks?
We must abandon “rules of thumb” in favor of rigorous traffic analysis. For taller towers, destination control systems are vital; they batch journeys intelligently to reduce stops and maximize peak-hour capacity. Lobby positioning is equally critical — poor planning can create a perception of waiting that undermines the actual performance. At the scale of supertall towers, vertical transportation is the community’s primary interface with the building; it must be designed with the same aesthetic and functional rigor as the architecture itself.
Q. Adaptive reuse of heritage structures is gaining traction. What unique considerations do these projects demand for vertical systems?
Heritage projects are a test of engineering finesse. They present challenges like non-standard floor heights, untouchable structural walls, and the need to preserve architectural character. These are solvable with innovative approaches like compact MRL systems that can be threaded through existing voids or external shaft structures designed to complement the original. The ability to preserve the past while installing future-ready technology is one of the most exciting frontiers in our industry.
Q. Despite improvements, safety incidents still occur. Where is the industry falling short in training and technology adoption?
Most incidents trace back to a triad of failures: reactive maintenance, deferred upgrades, and technician training gaps. The weakest link is often the AMC contract that lacks genuine predictive rigour. A significant portion of India’s existing lift stock still lacks standard safety devices like ARDs and full-height sensors. The industry must advocate for uniform, technology-enabled inspection frameworks and mandatory modernization triggers at defined equipment ages, shifting the culture from failure rectification to prevention and most of all -safety.
Q. Mixed-use towers require seamless movement between zones. What integrated approaches are proving most effective?
The technology exists to handle virtually any traffic pattern. The key is holistic integration. Using sky lobbies to decouple local and express traffic, deploying destination control for shuttle lifts, and layering access control to manage different user groups (residents, office staff, hotel guests) are all effective. The challenge is not the availability of technology, but the willingness to design a connected vertical mobility ecosystem from the outset.
Q. Urban flooding and infrastructure stress are becoming more frequent. How resilient are current elevator systems?
Resilience is still underappreciated by many building owners. Three upgrades are becoming non-negotiable: waterproofed pit enclosures with sump pumps, Automatic Rescue Devices with battery backup to prevent entrapment during outages, and machine rooms positioned above flood risk levels. Climate resilience is no longer optional; it is a critical component of lifecycle asset management.
Q. Cost pressures lead to “value engineering.” How can vertical mobility avoid becoming a hidden compromise?
Quality vertical mobility is an investment, not an expense. A lower specification leads to higher energy bills, more breakdowns, and premature replacement. The industry must shift the conversation from installation cost to lifecycle cost. In a competitive residential market, elevator quality is becoming a key differentiator that users recognize and factor into purchase decisions. It is – ‘The silent ambassador of building quality.’
Q. Smart cities promise connected infrastructure. How is the elevator industry evolving to plug into these ecosystems?
We are seeing the deployment of IoTbased monitoring as a standard practice. Sensors continuously transmit performance data—error logs, live floor tracking, and call patterns—to building management systems. The future lies in AI-enabled precision engineering and manufacturing, which builds the foundation for truly connected vertical transportation. Smart elevators are not a future ambition; they are the reality of today’s construction landscape.
Q. Resident feedback loops are underused. How can real user data inform future designs?
Residents use elevators several times a day and experience aspects that no technical specification can fully capture. By integrating structured feedback on factors such as waiting time, ride comfort, door performance, and reliability into building management systems, developers can generate valuable operational insights. This data can then be used to refine future elevator designs, improve maintenance strategies, and develop smarter mobility solutions that better reflect real-world user expectations.
As India’s high-rise landscape continues to evolve, companies that effectively leverage performance data and user feedback will be best positioned to design safer, smarter, and more efficient vertical transportation systems for the next generation of buildings.
Q. Looking ahead, what unconventional idea could redefine comfort and efficiency in our high-density towers?
The future of vertical transportation lies in the seamless convergence of AI, destination control systems, IoT connectivity, and smart access technologies into a single, intelligent mobility ecosystem.
We are moving toward a reality where the building recognizes you upon arrival, pre-summons an elevator, and optimizes your journey before you even press a button. On the parking front, we envision automated pallets serving as EV charging points, managed by software that prioritizes charging around resident schedules and grid demand.
Neither of these visions is science fiction; the technologies exist today. The future of high-density living depends on our willingness to integrate them into a cohesive, intelligent, and responsive ecosystem.
