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Ahead of the monsoon season, the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has decided to check the stability of old buildings in the city. The civic body has issued directions making structural audits mandatory for buildings that are more than 30 years old. The civic body has also released an annual list of unsafe and dilapidated buildings in the city.
Rise in unsafe buildings calls for urgent structural audits and repairs in Navi Mumbai
Accordingly, a total of 535 structures were inspected by the Corporation in the financial year 2024-25 and found to be unsafe and dilapidated. The structures declared unsafe for habitation were also served with notices under Section 264(1), (2), (3) and (4) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporations Act.
Structural audits of old buildings are conducted by engineers and structural auditors appointed by the administration. “Owners residing in buildings declared unsafe and unstable are asked to get necessary repair works done at the earliest to avoid any untoward incident,” a civic official said. The number of unsafe buildings in the city has increased considerably. Last year's survey listed 528 buildings and a total of 514 buildings have been declared unsafe in the 2022-23 survey.
NMMC sets tough norms, penalties for structural audit of old buildings
One of the key criteria that NMMC is enforcing to assess unsafe buildings is when an occupancy certificate (OC) was issued fully or partially to the occupants. “Those conducting the audit will have to determine the age of the building from the date on which the corporation issued the OC. Buildings that are more than 30 years old will have to undergo a structural audit by a designated auditor and the report should be submitted by September 30,” officials informed. A detailed report will be submitted to the ward office or town planning department.
Buildings that do not comply with the directions or are reluctant to undergo structural audits will be penalised by the NMMC with a penalty of Rs 25,000.The corporation has also asked residents living in dilapidated buildings to vacate the premises, and those who continue to live in such buildings and put their lives at risk will be held solely responsible by the concerned parties in case of any accidents.
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