Mumbai: On June 11, the doors of Shri Balaji International School at Malad West in Mumbai will open to students who will have to climb 11 floors to get to their classes.
The school management gave Atlanta, a Bengaluru-based elevator company, a contract that was to be completed by May 30. A 60 per cent payment was made as well.
On May 27, two Atlanta employees arrived on the site and informed the board member of the trust about their inability to finish the task before June 15. They said there was a shortage of material due to a dispute with their vendor.
Ashok Gupta, member of the school trust, said, "We already have a five-storey building in Malad and had decided that the 1000 students of our ICSE and IGCSE sections would shift to this new 11-storey building.
"But since the elevator is not ready, we can't start school. We have even submitted a complaint letter to the PWD department."
Maruti Rathod, senior inspector, Malad police station, said, "I haven't received any complaint letter. When I do get it, I'll check if it is a civil or criminal matter and the course of action will be decided accordingly."
Naveen Kumar, sales and business development officer at Atlanta Elevator Company, said, "I won't be the right person to comment on this issue. Please contact my senior."
There are two staircases in the school: a narrow one with 110 steps, and a broader one with 348 steps. With heavy schoolbags, it'll be a tough hike for students.