On August 17, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner M. Thennarasan issued a public notice requiring all residential and commercial buildings older than 15 years to submit structural stability certificates within 15 days. Despite the urgency, no certificates have been submitted, reflecting widespread non-compliance. The requirement, first introduced in 2014 under the Ahmedabad General Development Control Regulations (GDCR), mandates inspections by structural engineers for older buildings. However, enforcement has been weak, and many property owners remain unaware or indifferent to the rule. The lack of action raises serious concerns about public safety, prompting the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation to consider stricter enforcement measures.
On August 17, Ahmedabad Municipal Commissioner M. Thennarasan issued a public notice requiring all residential and commercial buildings older than 15 years to submit structural stability certificates. The notice gave property owners 15 days to comply. However, not a single certificate has been submitted in the month since the notice was issued, highlighting a significant lack of compliance.
Although this requirement was first introduced in 2014 under the Ahmedabad General Development Control Regulations (GDCR) and reaffirmed in 2017, enforcement has been weak. The rule states that all buildings over 15 years old must be inspected by a structural engineer and obtain a certificate of structural stability. Yet, according to an anonymous Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) official, these certificates are usually only filed when a building is deemed dilapidated or dangerous. Many property owners seem unaware of, or indifferent to, the regulation, and the AMC has failed to compel them to act.
The regulation requires residential buildings taller than nine meters and all commercial structures over 15 years old to submit their certificates within 15 days of the notice. Despite the rule being in place for over a decade, the AMC and the Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (AUDA) have not effectively enforced it. Buildings in the city have continued to age without the necessary inspections and certifications, posing potential safety risks to their occupants and the public.
The AMC's failure to enforce this critical regulation raises serious concerns about the safety of aging structures in Ahmedabad. With no certificates submitted following the latest notice, the municipal authorities are considering stricter measures to enforce compliance. The structural integrity of buildings is vital to ensure public safety, and timely inspections, maintenance, and certifications are key steps in identifying and mitigating potential risks.
In conclusion, Ahmedabad must take urgent action to ensure that property owners follow the regulations regarding structural stability certificates. Stricter enforcement and public awareness will be essential in securing the safety of buildings and preventing possible future disasters caused by the neglect of aging structures.
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