Tough stand also needed on escalator maintenance

The recent spate of faulty lift incidents in HDB estates is scary and unfortunate. As the Building and Construction Authority (BCA) introduces stricter rules in lift maintenance (“Tougher rules on lift upkeep from next month”; June 17), it is also timely to look at the service standards of escalators in shopping malls and MRT stations.

It is not uncommon to see escalators in some shopping malls breaking down repeatedly, and are sometimes shut down and suspended from use for months. This could be due to a lack of spare parts for replacement, or insufficient funds from the management.

The BCA should signal that such neglect of escalators is not tolerated, and there should be a limit set on the number of days an escalator can be shut down for major repair.

As escalators, especially those in shopping malls and MRT stations, are used by many people daily, the BCA should also tighten escalator maintenance and safety standards, and impose penalties if companies are not in compliance with standards.