Interview: Ravikrishnan Srinivasan, CEO & Managing Director, TK Elevator India

As India advances towards Viksit Bharat 2047, what role do intelligent vertical mobility systems play in shaping the future of smart cities, smart buildings, and urban infrastructure?
As India advances towards Viksit Bharat 2047, as cities evolve, intelligent vertical mobility systems are expected to become a fundamental pillar of modern urban infrastructure. With rapid urbanization and the growing prevalence of high-rise developments, elevators and escalators will play a critical role in ensuring the safe, efficient, and seamless movement of people across residential, commercial, healthcare, aviation, and transit environments.  The next generation of vertical mobility will be driven by new technologies, including AI, IoT, predictive maintenance, digital connectivity and more. These technologies will bring forth added features and benefits including real-time monitoring, optimized traffic management, reduced energy consumption, enhanced safety, and higher equipment availability. By integrating with building management systems and broader smart-city ecosystems, vertical transportation will contribute to more connected, efficient, and sustainable urban environments. As India’s commercial centres, residential developments, and public infrastructure continue to advance under the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, the need for safe, efficient, and reliable movement of people becomes increasingly essential. Elevators and escalators play a fundamental role in enabling this – supporting the daily flow of people across buildings, transit hubs, and high-density environments.

In an era where data is driving infrastructure decisions, how are data-driven mobility solutions helping improve operational resilience, reduce downtime, and optimise passenger flow in high-density environments?
Data-driven mobility solutions help streamline maintenance by leveraging real-time operational data and predictive analytics to identify issues early and plan interventions more efficiently. This enables better use of resources, reduces unnecessary downtime, and improves overall service reliability. When deployed consistently across multiple sites, solutions from the same manufacturer also create stronger system synergies – allowing for more standardized processes, faster diagnostics, and improved performance management across the portfolio.

Large-scale infrastructure assets such as airports, metro stations, commercial complexes, residential towers, and public facilities are becoming increasingly sophisticated. How are mobility technologies evolving to meet these changing demands?
Let’s focus on connectivity, as this is potentially the biggest differentiator in today’s mobility solutions. Across airports, metro stations, commercial buildings, and residential developments, state-of-the-art digital solutions are what enable elevators and escalators to keep pace with evolving building designs and rising market expectations. Data-driven, connected systems—such as advanced Destination Control – give building operators greater flexibility in how they deploy and manage equipment. Whether the priority is reducing waiting times, optimizing traffic flow, improving energy efficiency, or enhancing user privacy, these systems can be adapted to meet a wide range of operational needs. At the same time, connected mobility solutions enable continuous 24/7 monitoring. By leveraging real-time data, they can flag potential issues before they lead to disruptions, making predictive maintenance possible and significantly improving equipment uptime. This ensures more reliable service, more efficient use of resources, and better overall performance across increasingly complex building environments.

Sustainability is a key pillar of Viksit Bharat. How are energy-efficient and digitally connected mobility systems contributing to greener, more sustainable infrastructure development in India?
Sustainability is a cornerstone of Viksit Bharat, and mobility systems are increasingly contributing to this vision by helping buildings consume less, operate smarter, and last longer. From reducing energy demand through regenerative technologies to optimizing usage based on real-time traffic patterns, modern elevators and escalators are becoming active contributors to a building’s sustainability performance rather than simply utility systems. Digitally connected mobility solutions also support a more resource-efficient infrastructure ecosystem by enabling remote monitoring, reducing unnecessary maintenance interventions, and maximizing equipment life cycles. This helps lower both operational costs and environmental impact while ensuring reliable service for users. Importantly, different building owners and operators often have varying operational priorities depending on time, usage patterns, and the nature of the asset. Connected, data-driven systems provide the flexibility to respond dynamically – allowing operators to remotely or automatically adjust operations to suit their most pressing needs. Whether it is saving energy by parking selected elevators, reducing congestion through zoned deployment, or optimizing systems such as air-conditioning and regenerative braking, these capabilities enable more efficient and responsive operations. As India continues to urbanize, sustainable mobility will depend not only on how efficiently people move, but also on how intelligently infrastructure adapts to changing demands – making connected mobility a practical enabler of more efficient, resource-conscious, and sustainable urban environments.

What opportunities do you foresee for India to emerge as a global hub for advanced mobility technologies, smart infrastructure solutions, and next-generation manufacturing?
India’s rapid urbanization is driving strong demand for advanced mobility solutions across buildings and infrastructure. At the same time, the country’s strength in IT and digital capabilities provides a solid foundation to support this development. Bringing these two together creates a clear opportunity to scale intelligent, connected mobility solutions. In parallel, TK Elevator continues to strengthen its local presence, including the expansion of its manufacturing facility in Pune. This enhances overall capability and flexibility, supporting the delivery of solutions that are aligned with evolving market needs.