By Rakesh Giri
NEW DELHI: Numerous high-rise commercial buildings in Delhi’s Connaught Place (CP), including structures associated with Vijaya Building and Navrang Bhavan, are operating in alleged violation of critical safety regulations, posing immediate hazards to occupants. Primary violations include the failure to obtain or renew mandatory Fire Safety Certificates (FSCs) and the use of dangerously dilapidated lift systems.
The situation reveals a critical regulatory failure, prompting questions about management accountability and oversight by the Delhi Fire Services (DFS) and the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC).
Many building managements have ignored the legal requirement to renew FSCs every three years. DFS has issued repeated notices, stating that buildings operating with expired certificates are unsafe and face penalties, including the disconnection of utilities. Despite these threats, numerous large commercial centers remain non-compliant.
Beyond fire risk, reports highlight severe maintenance deficits. The Vijaya Building area, in particular, was previously linked to an elevator incident where a falling lift injured occupants, underscoring years of negligence regarding vertical transportation. Furthermore, structural audits following 2017 roof collapses deemed hundreds of units “dangerous” due to excessive rooftop loads and unauthorized modifications in the heritage structures.
The persistence of these hazards suggests a systemic breakdown in enforcement. Critics allege that continued operations despite clear dangers are enabled by a failure of oversight and potential “connivance” between building owners and regulatory officials. The slow response and widespread tolerance for life-threatening conditions—such as blocked fire corridors and non-functional safety systems—indicate that legal penalties are frequently circumvented, allowing unsafe commercial activity to continue unchecked in a major business district.
