Mumbai: Members of Salvation Army have complained to the fire department about fire safety violations and other irregularities at a hall in their community centre on Maulana Azad Road, also called Morland Road.
A letter to the Divisional Fire Officer, Mumbai Fire Brigade Office, stated that the centre's trustees have not complied with any of the fire safety regulations issued by the fire department in May 2025.
The Salvation Army is a Protestant church with around 10,000 members in Mumbai. The church, which was founded in the United Kingdom, arrived in India with its missionaries in the late nineteenth century. The denomination's religious leaders have designations similar to those of the military.
The group was founded as an organisation primarily focused on spirituality and charity. The denomination runs orphanages, homes for the blind, and craft centres to help the unemployed. The organisation also runs the Red Shield House hostel in Colaba.
The Duncan Road compound, built during colonial rule, houses a worship hall, residences, a girls' hostel, and other facilities. Pramod Gajbhiv, a member of the Salvation Army, said that the community trust has violated the Maharashtra Regional and. Town Planning Act, 1966, and fire laws by constructing illegal structures.
"The properties were donated for religious and charity work and belong to God. The trust has built a hall rented out to outsiders," said Gajhbhiv.
Pravin Khandizod, another church member, said that the hall replaced a depot that sorted and recycled waste paper donated by companies. "Funds from the sale of the paper supported many charity activities. The trust has shut down charity projects like the home for the blind. The old-age home is in a pathetic condition," said Khandizod, who added that they have also challenged the legality of the church trust.
Major Sanjay Vanjare, trustee of the Salvation Army, said that they were in the process of getting licences for the hall. "We will first put the fire safety system in place and then apply for a municipal licence," said Vanjare.
Gajhbhiv said there was a fire incident in December 2024 and added that there were concerns about public safety if the premises continued to be used for events without a fire safety system.
