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A recent government survey in **Odisha has identified approximately 120 unsafe buildings spread across 18 districts, raising safety concerns in urban and semi-urban areas, officials said in the past week. The survey, carried out as part of a broader structural safety audit, flagged buildings that pose potential hazards due to their fragile or deteriorated conditions. The findings are expected to lead to urgent action by local authorities, including issuing notices to occupants, rehabilitation or demolition of high-risk structures and reinforcement where feasible. Districts such as Cuttack reported a higher concentration of unsafe buildings, with authorities set to examine repair, vacate or demolition options to prevent accidents and protect residents and neighbouring communities. The exercise underlines the challenge of maintaining ageing building stock and enforcing safety norms across the state.
A comprehensive government-led survey in Odisha has identified nearly 120 structurally unsafe buildings across 18 districts, prompting authorities to consider corrective action to safeguard public safety and urban resilience, officials said in the past week. The findings, as disclosed by government sources, are part of a safety audit aimed at assessing the condition of buildings in both densely populated areas and regions susceptible to structural vulnerabilities. Advertisement
The survey, which covered residential, institutional and government-used properties, flagged structures that are considered hazardous due to age-related deterioration, inadequate maintenance or compromised structural integrity. Buildings identified as unsafe pose potential risks of collapse or accidental damage, particularly during adverse weather events or seismic activity, and are subject to varying degrees of risk classification by local authorities.
Among the districts assessed, Cuttack emerged with the largest number of buildings deemed unsafe, reflecting both the density of older urban stock and evolving infrastructure pressures in one of Odisha's oldest urban centres. Officials said that detailed structural evaluations will now inform the next steps, which could include issuing formal structural safety notices to occupants and property owners, ordering reinforcement works, or, where necessary, planning for demolition of buildings that cannot be salvaged.
Local bodies and municipal corporations are expected to lead enforcement actions in coordination with state agencies, balancing public safety imperatives with due process for affected residents. Notices will typically require building users to either vacate or undertake repair work under supervised conditions, with timelines for compliance set in accordance with regulatory frameworks governing building safety and public welfare.
The statewide survey underlines longstanding challenges in maintaining ageing building inventories, particularly in districts where rapid urbanisation has outpaced structured inspections and enforcement of building codes. Odisha's regulatory definitions of unsafe structures encompass hazards related to structural instability, inadequate fire and egress provisions, and dilapidation, underscoring the need for ongoing monitoring and corrective measures.
Authorities have emphasised that early identification and intervention are critical to preventing accidents, protecting residents and preserving surrounding infrastructure. The latest audit findings may trigger targeted redevelopment or rehabilitation initiatives, as state and local governments seek to strengthen built-environment safety standards and improve the resilience of urban settlements.
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