The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) carried out 25 demolition actions across all 12 zones of the Capital on Friday, taking the number of such actions since the Satya Niketan building collapse to 136 as the civic body intensifies its crackdown on dangerous structures, unauthorised construction and violations of building norms.
The MCD also sealed four properties, issued six show-cause notices and passed four demolition orders during Friday’s enforcement exercise. The latest action came a day after the civic body carried out 41 demolition actions and sealed 61 properties as inspections and enforcement gathered pace following the September 6 collapse of a paying guest accommodation in Satya Niketan that killed seven people.
Action spreads across all 12 zones
Demolition action on Friday was undertaken at locations across the Capital, including Satya Niketan in the South Zone, Vasant Kunj in the South West Zone, Burari in the North Zone, Shalimar Bagh in the Keshavpuram Zone, Krishna Park in the Central Zone, Rajan Babu Road in Adarsh Nagar and Chandu Nagar in Nehru Vihar.
In the Old Delhi Zone, the civic body carried out targeted action at a property in Delhi Gate Bazaar in Daryaganj. Two roof panels on the fifth floor were demolished with assistance from personnel of the Daryaganj police station, officials said.
The MCD also continued the controlled demolition of a building adjoining the structure that collapsed in Satya Niketan. The tragedy has triggered heightened scrutiny of buildings being used as PG accommodations and other structures where unauthorised additions or alterations may pose risks to occupants.
Between September 7 and September 11, the MCD carried out 136 demolition actions across Delhi. Seven actions were undertaken on September 7, followed by 17 on September 8, 46 on September 9, 41 on September 10 and another 25 on Friday.
1,523 PG buildings identified
Alongside demolition and sealing operations, the civic body is conducting a citywide survey of paying guest accommodations. Officials said 1,523 operational PG buildings have been identified so far, collectively housing around 33,500 occupants.
Earlier survey data up to September 10 had identified three “visibly dangerous” buildings among 1,355 PG properties inspected. Those three buildings housed 69 students and young professionals.
The latest increase in the number of identified PG properties reflects the continuing nature of the exercise as municipal teams compile information across Delhi. Officials said the data are being consolidated and further legal and regulatory action will follow wherever establishments are found violating structural safety requirements, building bye-laws or other applicable norms.
The PG survey has assumed particular importance following the Satya Niketan collapse because large numbers of students and young professionals live in privately operated accommodations, often in buildings originally designed for different residential uses.
Over 1,100 demolitions since June
The latest crackdown builds on enforcement already underway against illegal construction across Delhi. Between June 1 and September 11, the MCD carried out 1,119 demolition actions against unauthorised constructions, dangerous structures and other building violations.
The tally stood at 1,053 through September 9 before increasing by 41 on Thursday and another 25 on Friday.
The civic body has said enforcement is being undertaken against structures violating provisions of the Master Plan of Delhi and applicable building bye-laws, while properties considered structurally unsafe are also being scrutinised.
Satya Niketan tragedy accelerates crackdown
The September 6 collapse has brought renewed attention to the safety of Delhi’s PG accommodations and the prevalence of unauthorised construction, particularly in neighbourhoods with large student populations.
Since the tragedy, the MCD has stepped up inspections, demolitions, sealing operations and notices across its 12 zones, while simultaneously attempting to create a clearer picture of the number and condition of PG establishments operating in the Capital.
Officials said the survey and enforcement exercise would continue, with action to be taken on the basis of structural condition, authorised building plans and compliance with municipal regulations.
The identification of more than 1,500 operational PG buildings housing about 33,500 people has also widened the scale of the safety exercise, turning the immediate response to the Satya Niketan collapse into a broader scrutiny of Delhi’s rental accommodation infrastructure.