Strike Over Long Elevator Lines Closes Eiffel Tower

Elevator World

Welcome to the Elevator World News Podcast. This week’s news podcast is sponsored by elevatorbooks.com: http://www.elevatorbooks.com STRIKE OVER LONG ELEVATOR LINES CLOSES EIFFEL TOWER The Eiffel Tower, the famous Paris landmark and tourist attraction, was shut down on August 1 when workers went on strike to protest ticket changes that have caused "monstrous" lines at visitor elevators, Times Now reports. The situation erupted after SETE, the company that operates the tower, changed rules to require 50% of all ticket sales be made in advance and for appointed times, up from 20%. As part of the change, specific elevators have been designated for pre-sale ticketholders, with other lifts set aside for "walk-up" visitors. Workers say the procedure is causing hours-long waits for elevators. Some purchasers of appointment tickets have reported lines so long, they missed their times. There was no indication of how long the strike might last. DELHI HIGH COURT HALTS BUILDING TALL NEAR IGI AIRPORT The High Court in Delhi, India, issued an order on July 30 halting construction and selling of high-rise buildings around Indira Ghandi International (IGI) Airport in Delhi, India, India Today reports. The court learned there are approximately 20 under-construction buildings that are potential obstacles to aircraft security and safety. The court hopes the move will stop illegal construction, primarily in nearby Dwarka and Vasant Kunj, observing it would be difficult to remove high rises once they are occupied. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) is required to survey potential obstacles every two years, but the court noted DGCA has done so “just twice” since 2007 and removed only 40 of 369 obstacles. DGCA said it is working to remove all 369 obstacles. HEIGHT CONCESSIONS VERSUS COMMUNITY BENEFIT IN AUSTRALIA Residents of the City of Melville, a suburb of Perth in western Australia, have lawyered up to challenge developer Finbar's Canning Bridge in Applecross, consisting of a 30-story and two 26-story towers, The West Australian reports. The area has a 15-story limit, but exceptions are granted if a project has "exemplary design" and provides community benefits. The firm arguing the case, Squire Patton Boggs (SPB), contends there is no clear way to measure community benefit. SPB has successfully had three development approvals overturned. ACCIDENT PROBE LEADS TO ESCALATOR SHUTDOWN IN COPENHAGEN Danish authorities temporarily shut down all the escalators at state rail operator DSB's Copenhagen Central Station on July 31 after safety issues and expired safety certificates were discovered on four of the station's 12 devices, The Local reports. The action by the Danish Working Environment Authority came after a July 29 incident in which a part broke loose on one of the escalators, injuring four people. An investigation of the accident is what led to the shutdown, but at least some of the units were expected to quickly return to service, the source said. MEI LAUNCHES NEW WEBSITE MEI - Total Elevator Solutions has redesigned its website. It is mobile friendly and has streamlined navigation. A new “Project Gallery” section showcases some of MEI’s favorite projects, including the World Trade Center; Winfield Place in Fort Worth, Texas; and airports, public-transit facilities, museums, stadiums and malls around the U.S. Image courtesy pexels.com via user "Thorsten technoman" : https://www.pexels.com/photo/picture-of-eiffel-tower-338515/ Subscribe to the Podcast: iTunes?Google Play | SoundCloud?Stitcher?TuneIn