Navi Mumbai: NMMC to send notices for mandatory structural audit of 30-year-old and above buildings

In order to prevent an incident like the one that happened in Nerul where multiple floors of a building collapsed, the municipal commissioner of Navi Mumbai Abhijit Bangar held a meeting with the concerned civic officials and directed them to prepare a list of buildings that are 30 years old or above. The civic body will initiate the process of structure audits of all such buildings to prevent incidents like the Nerul building.

The Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) has also sought details from CIDCO for its constructed buildings that are 30 years old or above.

CIDCO started the development of Navi Mumbai from Vashi Node and it constructed a large number of houses that are more than 30 years old and they need immediate structural audits. However, the civic body noticed that residents of these buildings do not show interest and even do not respond to this very important issue. But such kinds of negligence can be dangerous for the security of life and property of the citizens.

"Citizens realize the seriousness only after a building collapses," said a senior civic official. So, the civic body has taken the initiative to conduct a structural audit of such old buildings to avoid further possible incidents.

In this regard, the civic Town Planning Department has been asked to prepare a list of buildings older than 30 years. Even details of CIDCO-constructed buildings have been sought.

Now, all ward offices will issue notices under section 265A of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act (MMCA), and such buildings for conducting structural audits. They will also be asked to present a construction status certificate within 30 days of receiving the notice. The list of Structural Engineers is available on the website of NMMV at www.nmmc.gov.in.

The civic body has also warned that if housing societies ignore the notice and do not conduct the structural audit, a penalty of Rs. 25,000 will be collected from the society under section 398 of the MMCA.