The latest inspection was conducted on September 13, following which a formal letter denying the fire safety certificate was issued on September 25
The Delhi Fire Department has refused to issue a fire safety certificate to the Delhi Development Authority’s (DDA) headquarters, Vikas Sadan, located in INA Colony, citing at least 11 fire safety deficiencies that pose potential hazards. According to officials, the building has been without a fire no-objection certificate (NOC) for the past five years, despite multiple inspections and repeated requests for rectification.
The latest inspection was conducted on September 13, following which a formal letter denying the fire safety certificate was issued on September 25. The fire department listed issues such as exposed wires in the basement, gaps in fire check doors, non-functional lift pressurization, and a faulty automatic fire detection and alarm system. The DDA has been asked to address these issues before reapplying for certification.
A fire department official, speaking on condition of anonymity, confirmed the building’s lack of an NOC. “At least two audits were conducted, and DDA was informed of the shortcomings, but they have not been resolved. The building has been without a fire NOC for at least five years,” the official said.
According to the letter, an earlier inspection in August 2022 had highlighted seven issues, which remained unresolved during the follow-up inspection in September 2023. In fact, four additional concerns were identified, bringing the total number of fire safety lapses to 11.
Some of the other critical issues noted in the inspection include unsealed electrical shafts, non-functional elevators, blocked staircases and corridors in the basement, and inadequate ventilation in key areas. Inspectors also found that fire check doors, designed to prevent the spread of smoke, had significant gaps, undermining their effectiveness. Additionally, the automatic sprinkler system on the seventh floor needs to be extended to cover unprotected areas.
“In view of the shortcomings, issuance of a fire safety certificate cannot be considered at this stage. You are requested to rectify the issues and inform this department for further action,” the fire department’s letter stated.
Other problems included the removal of elevator signs and a malfunctioning public announcement system, which was either inaudible or too faint to be useful during an emergency.
Local residents and safety advocates have criticized the DDA for neglecting fire safety measures, not only risking the lives of its staff but also endangering visitors. “The DDA is responsible for the planned development of Delhi, yet it has been failing in its own fire safety measures,” said Paras Tyagi, president of the Centre for Youth Culture, Law, and Environment, an NGO. “Even after appointing a consultant fire officer, the fire safety issues remain unresolved, exposing serious lapses in accountability.”
The DDA has claimed it has been upgrading its firefighting systems proactively and is addressing the areas of concern identified by the Delhi Fire Services.
