Amid growing concerns over building safety, Gurugram's Deputy Audit Commissioner, Nishant Yadav, has launched the second phase of a critical structural audit for 15 residential societies. These buildings, selected from a list of 60 high-risk projects, will undergo a comprehensive on-site inspection to identify structural defects. The audit follows the tragic collapse at the Chintels Paradiso apartments last year. The cost of these audits will be shared equally between residents and developers, although if complaints are confirmed, developers will bear the full cost. This move emphasizes the city administration's commitment to ensuring resident safety.
As an answer to a slew of complaints regarding construction quality and structural integrity over the last two years, Gurugram's Deputy Audit Commissioner, Nishant Yadav, has initiated the second phase of a structural audit of 15 high-rise residential societies in the city. These buildings were chosen from a pool of 60 projects, primarily lining the Dwarka Expressway and the Southern Peripheral Road, raised by leading real estate firms.
After a disturbing incident last year when multiple floors of the Chintels Paradiso apartments collapsed, the city administration has taken this issue with utmost gravity. These audits will involve meticulous on-site inspections to identify visible flaws, signs of wear and tear, and potential damage to key structural elements such as slabs, beams, and columns.
The first phase of this audit, which also scrutinized 15 societies, was launched in August 2022, following the collapse of a Chintels Paradiso tower, resulting in two fatalities. Four agencies—Bureau Vertias, TPC Technical Projects Consultants, Vintech Consultants, and NNC Design International—contracted by the district administration, undertook these audits and highlighted various deficiencies. While problems such as basement flooding, steel corrosion, and peeling plaster were discovered, the consensus was that the issues were "repairable".
District Town Planner (DTP) Manish Yadav will be reaching out to the Resident Welfare Associations (RWAs) of the next 15 selected societies, recommending them to commission audits by either the district administration-approved agencies or consultants of their choice. It's stipulated that the cost of these audits will be shared equally between the residents and the developer. However, if complaints are substantiated, the developers will bear the entire cost, as asserted by the deputy commissioner.
To ensure the timely completion of this mammoth task, officials from the planning department and the Public Works Department are also expected to assist, considering the short staffing at the Department of Town and Country Planning's enforcement wing.
In conclusion, the second phase of structural audits is a significant move by the city administration in guaranteeing the safety of Gurugram's residents. This exercise of assessing structural integrity underlines the importance of continuous monitoring and proper maintenance of buildings to avert disasters. It serves as a wake-up call for city administrators and developers to prioritize resident safety over any other interests.
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