Structural stability audit for Mumbai's 40,000 buildings

The structural audit of buildings more than 30 years old will soon be a must in Maharashtra. The state legislature has passed a Bill to amend the municipal laws, making it obligatory for every owner or occupier of a building more than 30 years old to submit a structural stability certificate to guarantee that such structures are fit for human habitation.

There are around 2.5 lakh buildings in Mumbai, of which 40,000 are mostly in the island city, which are more than 30 years old. The Bill seeks amendment to the Mumbai Municipal Corporation Act, the Bombay Provincial Municipal Corporation Act, 1949, the City of Nagpur Municipal Corporation Act, 1948, and the Maharashtra Municipal Councils, Nagar Panchayats and Industrial Township Act, 1965.

The Bill, which has been passed by both the houses of the legislature, follows the state government’s assurance to avoid recurrence of incidents like the Laxmi Chhaya building collapse in July last year in Borivli that left 20 people dead. One wing of the building had collapsed after one of the columns was tampered with during the renovation of a jewellery shop on the ground floor.

The Bill, which will now be sent to the governor for clearance, makes it expedient on the owners or occupiers of buildings over 30 years old to have the structures examined by a structural engineer registered with the municipal corporation or council. The structural engineer will certify if the building is fit for human habitation.

The owners will have to submit the structural stability certificate to the respective civic body -- corporation or council -- within a year when a building turns 30 years old and after every 10 years thereafter.

The civic chief may determine the condition of the building and recommend, on the basis of the structural engineer’s observations, corrective repairs. The owners would be liable for a fine if they fail to act on the recommendations of the structural engineer within six months of his report.