Following the building collapse incident in Delhi, the Chandigarh administration has become alert regarding unsafe buildings. The Estate Office has identified a total of 134 unsafe buildings in the city; all of these are commercial and industrial structures.
A committee, constituted under the directives of Deputy Commissioner (DC) Nishant Yadav following the collapse of the three-story ‘Mehfil Hotel’ in Sector 17 last year, prepared the list of unsafe buildings and submitted its report to the administration. Notices will now be issued to the respective building owners, directing them to either carry out repairs or have a structural audit conducted by an authorized expert. According to the report, the highest number of unsafe buildings—15—are located in Sector 22. Sector 22 is among the city’s major markets and commercial zones. With the highest number of unsafe buildings found here, the administration will now focus on safety inspections and necessary repairs.
Additionally, 13 unsafe buildings were identified in Industrial Area Phase-1 and 10 in Phase-2. Meanwhile, eight unsafe buildings were identified in Sector 20, seven each in Sectors 8 and 18, and seven in Sector 21. Six unsafe buildings were found in Sector 19. DC Nishant Yadav also held a meeting on Tuesday regarding these unsafe buildings.
Five Unsafe Buildings in Sector 17 Too
Five unsafe buildings have also been identified in Sector 17, the city’s most prominent commercial hub, often referred to as the “heart of the city.” Five buildings each from Sectors 26, 32, and 37 are also included in the list.
Four unsafe buildings each were found in Sectors 11, 24, 27, and 51, while three each were identified in Sectors 15 and 23. The list also includes three buildings in Manimajra and two each in Sectors 16 and 28.
Single unsafe buildings have also been identified in several other parts of the city. These include Sectors 2, 5, 9, 29, 30, 31, 35, 38, 40, 46, 47, 50, and 52.
Basement wall of a building collapses in Sector 17
On Monday, the basement wall of a building in Sector 17 also collapsed. Following the incident, the surrounding area was evacuated as a precautionary measure, and safety checks were conducted. The inclusion of five buildings from this same sector in the ‘unsafe’ list further underscores the need for regular structural inspections of the buildings.
