Why Are Delivery and Construction Workers Denied Access to Regular Lifts?

From delivery partners to construction workers, several incidents have highlighted how residential buildings restrict workers' access to lifts, raising questions about the treatment and basic dignity.

Delivery Workers Forced to Climb Stairs? Viral Videos Raise Questions About Lift Restrictions in Housing Societies

Have you ever noticed that delivery workers, domestic helpers and other service staff are sometimes asked to use a different lift from residents in residential buildings? While many housing societies have separate service lifts, restrictions can become a problem when workers are denied access to other lifts, even when the service lift is unavailable.

In recent months, several incidents across India have brought attention to how construction workers, delivery partners and domestic helpers are treated inside residential buildings.

In October 2026, a video shared on social media showed a construction worker carrying two heavy concrete blocks on his head while climbing the stairs of a high-rise building. According to reports, the worker had to climb to the 21st floor carrying a load weighing around 20 kg. The building reportedly had four lifts. However, the worker was seen climbing the stairs with the heavy blocks balanced on his head.

The video raised questions about why workers were not allowed to use the lifts to transport construction materials.

Delivery Workers Restricted to Using Service Lifts

A similar issue was raised by a Zepto delivery partner in an interview circulating on social media. He spoke about how some residential buildings allow delivery workers to use only the pet lift instead of regular passenger lifts. This is not the first time delivery partners have spoken about such restrictions.

In December 2025, Rajya Sabha MP Raghav Chadha invited a Blinkit delivery partner named Himanshu to his home for lunch. During their conversation, Himanshu spoke about the difficulties delivery partners face while working. He explained that when a building's service lift stops working, delivery workers are sometimes not allowed to use the regular passenger lifts either. As a result, they have to climb several floors using the stairs to deliver orders.

Himanshu also spoke about other challenges faced by delivery partners, including falling payments, long working hours and the risks of road accidents.

Housing Society Rules Have Faced Criticism Before

In February 2025, a housing society in Gurugram came under criticism for restricting domestic helpers and delivery workers from using the main lifts.

The issue came to light after photographs of notices and fine slips from the society were shared online. The notices instructed domestic helpers and delivery personnel to use only the service lift. Some workers were also reportedly fined for using the main lift. The issue had received attention even earlier.

In November 2022, IAS officer Awanish Sharan shared a photograph of a notice displayed outside a housing society lift. The notice stated that only residents could use the lift and specifically mentioned delivery workers from companies such as Swiggy and Zomato.

The photograph went viral, with people questioning how delivery workers could be expected to deliver food to someone living on the 20th floor if they were not allowed to use the lift.

More recently, in January 2026, another video showed a delivery worker carrying a large parcel up the stairs of a residential building. According to the social media post, delivery personnel and packers and movers were not allowed to use the lift. The worker was seen carrying the heavy parcel on his back while climbing six floors.

Why Do Housing Societies Have Separate Lift Rules?

There are different reasons why housing societies create separate lift rules. Some want to maintain cleanliness, control the movement of visitors, prevent damage to passenger lifts or ensure that heavy goods are transported through service lifts. Many buildings also have separate lifts for staff, deliveries and moving furniture.

Having separate service lifts is not necessarily a problem. These arrangements can help buildings manage movement and maintain safety. However, the problem arises when service lifts are unavailable or when workers are not allowed to use any other lift and are expected to climb several floors instead.

A 2024 study published by Data & Society also examined how gated communities in India regulate and monitor platform workers. It highlighted how security systems and access rules can create additional challenges for workers entering residential complexes.

Should Basic Access Depend on Whether Someone Is a Resident?

The issue is not simply whether a building has a separate service lift. The bigger question is what happens when that lift is unavailable and workers are denied access to another one.

Residents depend on construction workers, security guards, domestic helpers and delivery partners every day. These workers help build and maintain homes, provide essential services and bring everyday items directly to residents' doors. If workers are expected to enter a building to do their jobs, they should also have safe and reasonable access to the facilities they need.

A separate lift may be a building rule. But making workers climb several floors because that lift is unavailable is a different matter.

Basic dignity and reasonable access should not depend on whether someone lives in a building or works inside it.