India’s cities are growing taller, denser, and more complex, but much of their vertical infrastructure is quietly ageing. Millions of elevators installed decades ago are now under pressure to meet modern expectations of safety, speed, energy efficiency, and digital connectivity. In this interview, Sebi Joseph, President of Otis India reflects on how elevator modernisation has evolved from routine upgrades into a critical pillar of urban planning. He discusses ageing lift stock, rising high-rise density, new safety codes, and why modernisation is increasingly about future-proofing cities, not just maintaining buildings.
You took charge of Otis India at a time when much of India’s vertical infrastructure was already ageing. How has the meaning of “modernisation” evolved for you since 2015? Is it still about upgrades, or about future-proofing entire urban systems?
Sebi Joseph: As of 2025, there are an estimated 22 million elevators operating around the world – around 8 million are 15 to 20 years old, and ready for modernisation.
Modernising elevators is an effective way to enhance buildings with the latest technologies and improve passenger safety and experience. An investment in the future, modernisation offers improved safety, reliability, energy efficiency and customer experience.
It plays a crucial role in enhancing accessibility for all building users, upgrading to meet the latest accessibility standards and empowering people to move independently, which will become increasingly important as the population ages, after all, by 2050, one in five people in India will be over 60.
India has millions of lifts installed between the 1990s and early 2000s. From a safety and performance standpoint, how urgent has the modernisation problem become today?
Sebi Joseph: The need for modernisation is significant as India’s vast stock of elevators from the 1990s and early 2000s begin to age. As buildings grow smarter and cities denser, older elevators must keep pace with expectations of increased safety, performance and connectivity with building management systems. This is where the expertise of Otis, from a vast field network to predictive digital tools, is highly relevant for our customers, as we help transform ageing assets into systems that can serve communities for years to come.
Building owners often delay modernisation because they see it as a cost, not an investment. From your data and experience, what risks do they underestimate the most, safety, energy efficiency, or downtime?
Sebi Joseph: Otis helps building owners plan modernisation at a pace and budget that feels comfortable for them, and to understand the benefits of the options available. Safety is at the core of our company and older buildings can benefit enormously from newer technologies that enhance protection, responsiveness and overall performance, including energy efficiency.
How is modernisation now tied to larger national goals such as energy efficiency, smart cities and green buildings, rather than just compliance and maintenance?
Sebi Joseph: Modernisation is closely linked to India’s vision for sustainable smart cities and buildings, supporting the nation’s commitment to net-zero emissions by 2070. Older elevators with less efficient motors naturally consume more energy: modern elevator solutions can improve energy efficiency. Otis’ energy-efficient technologies, such as ReGenTM drive, capture and return surplus power to the building, cutting consumption by up to 75% compared to conventional systems.
In dense urban centres like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bengaluru, how has the pressure of vertical growth changed expectations from old elevator systems?
Sebi Joseph: Two decades ago, our metro cities were beginning their real estate growth, with low- and mid-rise buildings and basic elevator systems. Today, high-rises dominate, and expectations have evolved. There are over 360 high-rises over 40-storeys in Mumbai alone, and that number is rising quickly. A similar momentum is visible in Delhi-NCR and Bengaluru.
People expect elevators to be safe, swift, aesthetically pleasing, accessible, and technologically advanced. The Otis Modular Series offers over 360 design combinations, giving customers the flexibility to tailor the performance, look and feel of their elevators to enhance the passenger experience.
Cybersecurity and digital controls are now part of elevator upgrades. Are building managers in India prepared for the shift from purely mechanical systems to connected, software-driven infrastructure?
Sebi Joseph: Expectations are being reshaped by the possibilities that digital systems and increased connectivity offer. We provide innovative solutions, and make the options and benefits clear for our customers, so they can make smart, informed choices.
For example, the Otis ONE™ IoT digital platform enables predictive maintenance, real-time health monitoring, and remote intervention, which can improve uptime and service quality.
And Otis can deliver exceptional passenger experience and optimized travel time with the Compass® 360 smart destination management system that dynamically adapts to passenger usage patterns in the building and can take passengers to their destination as much as 50 percent faster than conventional systems.
From a business strategy lens, how big is the modernisation opportunity compared to new installations in today’s market, and how is that changing Otis India’s priorities?
Sebi Joseph: Alongside our new equipment and core service business, it’s one of the most exciting opportunities in today’s elevator market. Modernising elevators installed decades ago allows buildings to benefit from the latest elevator safety standards, and technology that helps enhance reliability, efficiency and passenger comfort.
What role do you see policymakers and municipal authorities playing in pushing building owners toward proactive modernisation rather than reactive repairs?
Sebi Joseph: Policymakers are accelerating modernisation. The introduction of IS 17900 Parts 1 and 2 by the Bureau of Indian Standards is a defining moment that brings India’s elevator safety framework closer to global benchmarks like EN-81. Crucially, the code looks beyond new installations and addresses the need to modernise older elevators, encouraging building owners to plan ahead. This has created a strong, nationwide push toward future-ready vertical mobility.
All Otis elevators are already designed to comply with the core requirements introduced in the new code. Our depth of expertise helps us to simplify regulatory complexity and deliver practical, ready to-implement solutions for Indian developers, architects, and facility managers.
Looking ahead 10 to 15 years, do you think elevator modernisation in India will remain a choice driven by owners, or will it become a non-negotiable part of urban safety and infrastructure planning?
Sebi Joseph: Modernisation is essential to urbanisation. India has remarkable infrastructure and buildings that will need to be modernised to stay safe, efficient and relevant. The real estate boom of today will lead to a future modernisation wave, as these buildings age. Modernisation will keep India’s essential infrastructure and buildings future-ready.
