Incumbent Tbilisi Mayor pledges all faulty lifts will be replaced within four years

Incumbent Tbilisi Mayor Kakha Kaladze has promised that within the next four years, no faulty or emergency lifts will remain in the city, describing it as a “new commitment” for urban infrastructure. The announcement was made during a presentation on Tbilisi’s urban and transport policy, which was co-hosted by Deputy Mayor Giorgi Tkemaladze.

Kaladze, who is re-running for the post in the October 4 municipal race, said that a detailed plan and vision already exist to implement the programme. “In previous years, there were very serious and even fatal incidents related to lift failures and malfunctions. We have a roadmap, we know the funding, and over the next four years, across the city, no lift will remain in emergency condition. Everything will be modernised. This is another promise that the lift issue in the city will be resolved,” he said.

While the responsibility for maintenance typically falls on condominium associations, Kaladze added that due to the scale of the problem, the municipality will take charge of replacing lifts.

Deputy Mayor Tkemaladze highlighted that urban and transport policy reforms in Tbilisi were  among the city’s biggest challenges and have seen significant progress over recent years.

He also spoke about the programme for replacing emergency residential buildings. “We are able, with much less financial expenditure and in cooperation with private owners and businesses, not only to temporarily address the problem, but to provide people with new, modern multi-apartment buildings and fully renovated flats. In 2022, three projects were completed; in 2023, five; and for 2024–2025, 17 projects are planned. In total, 25 projects will benefit around 1,500 families,” Tkemaladze said.

He added that businesses will also have opportunities to participate in replacing buildings classified as emergency category IV–V, and that several projects have already been implemented in partnership with the private sector.

Regarding historic districts, Tkemaladze said that from 2026 a new and innovative replacement programme will be launched. Under this initiative, the municipality will buy flats from private owners at market value for the structure itself, rather than the land, allowing freed-up areas to be prepared for investment while preserving the historic landscape and urban order.

Tkemaladze also noted ongoing efforts to reacquire privatized recreational spaces for preservation and development, and said there are plans to create additional recreational areas in place of unsightly garages.

“The response to these initiatives has been very positive, and we are working closely with private owners. I am confident that many more successful projects will be implemented,” he said.