With the recent re-service of three escalators in the Tongcen Road underpass, seven other escalators in the downtown have been fully upgraded in the final batch for this year.  

During the evening rush hour, a reporter recently visited the Tongcen Road underpass, observing that citizens were frequently using the escalators to enter and exit. "The upgrade and renovation of the escalators are definitely a good deed for us," said Ms. Li, a citizen. She added that she usually passes through here on her way to and from work, and now that all the escalators have been replaced, they feel safer and more reassuring to use them.

To ensure the safe and smooth travel of citizens, since July 2022, the Municipal Construction Bureau's Public Utilities Center has been gradually upgrading these public escalators in batches based on their importance and frequency of use. "The seven escalators at Hongqi Road, Chengtu Square, and Tongcen Road underground passages, which were upgraded this year, are in the final batch." A staff member from the Bridge and Road Section of the Public Utilities Center told the reporters. In addition to being more aesthetically pleasing, the new escalators have shown significant improvements in terms of carrying capacity, operational noise reduction, and riding experience compared to the old ones.

"Previously, when it rained heavily, the escalators often had to be shut down, but now they can operate smoothly and safely during heavy rain with significantly improved waterproofing. The new escalators can also be connected via Bluetooth, allowing staff to check their operational status at any time. Additionally, there are proactive maintenance alerts that can automatically analyze passenger flow, reducing the frequency of malfunctions," The staff member added. In particular, the new escalators are equipped with a step-missing protection feature. If a step is missing, the escalator will automatically stop running, providing a safer and more comfortable travel environment for citizens.