MUMBAI, Aug. 24 -- With complaints about escalators at railway stations piling up, the Railway Board has promised better maintenance and monitoring. The board says that, going forward, manufacturers will have to maintain escalators for 15 years after the warranty period ends. "The move is aimed not only at reducing frequent breakdowns but also at ensuring that escalators are restored to service quickly," railway sources said. The system will also be introduced to reduce time taken to restart escalators after the emergency button is pressed, from 25 minutes to just 2 minutes. Escalators have been installed at several Central and Western railway stations in Mumbai but when they break down, commuters are forced to use staircases. This leads to congestion and commuter frustration, posing a challenge especially to senior citizens. The board's new guidelines, issued on August 13, apply to newly procured escalators. Older ones, not maintained by their manufacturers, can undergo a "one-time repair" by the manufacturer, after which the company will be responsible for their maintenance for at least seven years. Railway officials said the board has also permitted annual maintenance contracts to include provisions for the deployment of staff near escalators at sensitive and crowded locations....