Delhi Orders Immediate Sealing of Buildings With Unauthorised Fifth Floors

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has ordered the immediate sealing of buildings with unauthorised fifth floors across the city, as municipal authorities step up inspections following a building collapse in Satya Niketan that killed seven people.

The Municipal Corporation of Delhi's North West Zone issued directions on Monday for officials to take immediate action against such buildings under the Delhi Municipal Corporation Act. Assistant engineers have also been asked to conduct regular field inspections and ensure compliance with the new directions.

The crackdown comes as authorities widen their focus beyond the collapsed building to identify other potentially unsafe structures across Delhi.

Gupta said the government was treating the matter seriously and that buildings violating construction rules would face action. Nearby paying guest accommodations and other buildings are also being inspected, with violations potentially leading to sealing.

The MCD has suspended five officials, including a deputy commissioner and four engineering officials, following the Satya Niketan collapse, according to PTI. Officials also said the owner of the collapsed building had been arrested and legal proceedings were underway.

Municipal officials have now been directed to conduct fresh surveys of dangerous and dilapidated buildings, particularly in unauthorised areas.

Junior engineers in the Building Department have been asked to identify structures that have outlived their structural life or fallen into a dilapidated condition. The order directs officials to initiate action prescribed under the DMC Act against such buildings.

The MCD has also reminded its field staff that construction must comply with sanctioned building plans, safety requirements and the Unified Building Bye-Laws, 2016, as well as the Master Plan for Delhi.

The issue of fifth floors is closely linked to Delhi's building-height regulations.

Under the Delhi Development Authority's 2016 building bylaws, a building crossing 17.5 metres is classified as a high-rise and becomes subject to additional requirements. These can include greater open space for fire engines, stricter structural standards and mandatory clearance from the Delhi Fire Services.

Buildings that remain within the 17.5-metre limit can have a maximum of four floors above stilt parking, according to the report. Buildings without stilt parking are subject to a lower height limit of 15 metres.

Authorities are now expected to focus on whether existing buildings comply with their sanctioned plans and whether older structures remain safe for occupation.

The latest action reflects growing concern over building safety in Delhi, where several collapses have occurred in recent years. The government's immediate focus is on unauthorised fifth floors, but the wider inspection drive could bring more unsafe and non-compliant buildings under scrutiny.

For residents, particularly those living in older buildings or densely populated unauthorised colonies, the inspections could have significant consequences. While enforcement may lead to disruption for some property owners and occupants, the government's position is that building safety violations cannot be overlooked.

The coming days will show how widely the sealing drive is enforced across Delhi and how many buildings are ultimately identified as violating sanctioned plans or posing a structural risk.

Sources

https://realty.economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/industry/delhi-cm-orders-immediate-sealing-of-unauthorised-fifth-floors/133903886