Capital's iconic buildings fail fire safety test

Several iconic buildings in the national capital lack fire safety system, leading the Delhi Fire Service department to reject their applications for safety certificates.

Among the buildings are Samvidhan Sadan (old Parliament), parts of the world-class convention centre Bharat Mandapam, where the 2023 G20 meeting, and the Reserve Bank of India building on Sansad Marg. While Bharat Mandapam has a fire NOC, some of the newly constructed halls, including A2 to A5, lacked safety standards, said sources. The fire NOC has to be renewed every three years.

An official document accessed by The Tribune revealed that the Delhi Fire Service (DFS) identified several deficiencies in the old Parliament building, leading to the rejection of its NOC application. The gaps include blocked corridors and stairways, which could impede movement and evacuation during a fire emergency, said the sources.

In the case of Bharat Mandapam, the DFS has even warned the centre’s managing body ITPO that “occupancy at the newly constructed halls A2 to A5 would be at their own risk”. Built at a cost of Rs 2,700 crore, Bharat Mandapam boasts of 1.4 lakh square metres of exhibition area, making it the largest in the country and one of the largest globally.

“The occupancy of the premises (halls A2 to A5) in the absence of requisite fire safety arrangements shall be at the risk and liability of the owner," DFS Director Atul Garg wrote to Lt Col Deependra Mishra, general manager of ITPO, which manages the convention centre at Pragati Maidan.

During inspection of Bharat Mandapam halls A2 to A5, teams found that the level of operational efficiency of smoke detectors was not enough to ensure “complete compartmentation". The glass of fire check doors was broken at some points and shafts were not properly sealed, the teams found.

Old Parliament officials had sought a fire safety certificate for the Library Building, Samvidhan Sadan, Parliament House Annexe and the Extension of Parliament Annexe. The shortcomings were flagged after a DFS officer inspected the complex.

For the old Parliament complex, the DFS, in a letter to the Executive Engineer of Central Public Works Department, pointed out that it had flagged several shortcomings in 2021 as well, but these were yet to be rectified.

The RBI building was inspected on March 10 and it was found that fire detectors were not provided in the Air Handling Units and sprinklers were required to be extended to rooms and offices in the basement. Also, a smoke management system was not provided in the basement.