Ms. Anitha Raghunath, Co-Founder & Director, Virgo Communications & Exhibitions, spoke about Smart Lift & Mobility World 2026, highlighting what makes the platform uniquely positioned for industry participation, knowledge exchange, and thought leadership across India’s fast-evolving vertical mobility ecosystem.
Q1. What makes Smart Lift & Mobility World 2026 a unique platform for the industry?
Anitha Raghunath: Smart Lift & Mobility World 2026 is India’s only fully integrated platform that brings together elevators, escalators, vertical and horizontal mobility solutions, parking systems, building access technologies, and allied components under one roof. It reflects how mobility today is no longer a standalone product but an ecosystem critical to modern urban development.
Q2. How does the event go beyond a conventional product exhibition?
Anitha Raghunath: Beyond showcasing products, the event focuses on the bigger picture, smart buildings, seamless people movement, safety, and sustainability. These elements are central to India’s rapidly evolving urban landscape and are shaping how cities will function over the next decade.
Q3. What role does knowledge-sharing and thought leadership play at the event?
Anitha Raghunath: Knowledge is a key pillar of Smart Lift & Mobility World. The event features summits, keynote sessions, panel discussions, technical workshops, specialised trainings, and a first-of-its-kind business leadership coaching programme for next-generation leaders. These sessions address regulations, safety standards, emerging business opportunities, and the future of building designs and vertical mobility in India.
Q4. Safety has been highlighted as a movement rather than just a topic. Could you elaborate?
Anitha Raghunath: Safety is non-negotiable in the elevator industry. Through the Elevator Safety Run, which brings together over 3,000 participants, we are transforming safety from a discussion point into a shared movement. It highlights collective responsibility and drives awareness on responsible elevator usage and best practices across the ecosystem.
Q5. How does Smart Lift & Mobility Awards recognise excellence within the industry?
Anitha Raghunath: The Smart Lift & Mobility Awards 2026 celebrate landmark projects, visionary developers, architects, and industry leaders who are shaping India’s skyline and redefining both vertical and horizontal mobility. It’s about acknowledging innovation, design excellence, and leadership.
Q6. What is your reaction to the Union Budget in terms of infrastructure and real estate?
Anitha Raghunath: The Union Budget 2026’s strong focus on strengthening capital goods capability, through the establishment of high-tech tool rooms and the introduction of the Scheme for Enhancement of Construction and Infrastructure Equipment (CIE), is expected to significantly accelerate growth, profitability and global competitiveness of India’s elevator manufacturing industry.
Q7. How can the Union Budget further support the elevator and mobility industry specifically?
Anitha Raghunath: With over 60% of elevator components supplied by MSMEs, improved access to tool rooms and manufacturing incentives is also expected to enable 2–3x capacity expansion for component suppliers and open up export opportunities. Component exports could grow from USD 400 million currently to USD 1–1.2 billion by 2032. The elevators and smart vertical mobility solutions are critical infrastructure for urban India, and CIE Scheme thrust will create a strong foundation for sustainable, technology-led growth.
Q8. How does Smart Lift & Mobility World 2026 support business growth and industry collaboration?
Anita Raghunath: The event is designed as a strong business and collaboration platform. It brings together OEMs, component manufacturers, real estate developers, architects, consultants, regulators and facility managers, creating opportunities for sourcing, partnerships and long-term collaboration. It enables meaningful dialogue across the value chain, helping the industry align with future urban mobility needs.
Q9. Why is this edition particularly relevant for India’s growing vertical mobility industry?
Anita Raghunath: India is witnessing rapid vertical urban growth driven by infrastructure expansion, real estate development and smart city initiatives. Smart Lift & Mobility World 2026 comes at a critical time, offering the industry a global platform to engage with emerging technologies, evolving regulations, safety standards and sustainability priorities, while positioning India as a future-ready hub for smart and safe vertical mobility solutions.
Q10. And lastly, what is your view on the proposed ‘One Nation, One Lift’ policy?
Anitha Raghunath: A ‘One Nation, One Lift’ policy has the potential to be truly transformational for the industry. Uniform safety standards, harmonised regulations, and a unified licensing framework across states will significantly enhance safety, improve quality, simplify compliance, and promote ease of doing business. Such an approach would create a predictable, transparent, and efficient operating environment for manufacturers, developers, and service providers, "while strengthening regulatory oversight nationwide.”
