The sealing of the Civil Lines building housing Nanking restaurant marks the beginning of a broader crackdown by the Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC). The fire and emergency services department is preparing stringent action against hundreds of buildings that continue to violate fire-safety norms despite repeated notices and legal proceedings.
Stringent Enforcement Planned
Chief fire officer (CFO) Tushar Barahate told TOI that enforcement would be intensified, particularly against commercial establishments, restaurants, hotels, and mixed-use buildings. "Our initial focus will be on buildings where orders for disconnection of electricity and water supply have already been issued. If compliance is still not achieved, sealing action will follow," he said.
Violation Data
Data compiled by the department shows that 2,447 buildings across the city have been served notices under Section 6 of the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, 2006, directing them to rectify fire-safety deficiencies. Of these, 1,718 have been declared unsafe and ordered to vacate under Section 8(1). Authorities have ordered disconnection of electricity and water supply in 1,276 cases under Section 8(2), while police assistance has been sought in 317 cases under Section 8(2)(b) to evict occupants from unsafe premises. So far, 24 buildings have been sealed under Section 8(3), underscoring the extent of fire-safety violations across the city.
Legal Actions
The department has also initiated criminal proceedings in 100 cases under Section 36, while 52 cases have reached the legal proceedings stage under Section 40. Officials said commercial establishments account for a large share of violations, while mixed-use buildings remain a major concern because residential units often coexist with restaurants, offices, and other commercial activities, increasing risks during emergencies.
Nanking Building as a Case Study
"The Nanking building itself became a textbook case of prolonged non-compliance. Notices were issued over nearly two years, and a High Court order directing compliance followed. Yet mandatory fire-safety measures were not implemented," Barahate said. For years, enforcement largely remained limited to notices and warnings. The latest action signals a shift towards stricter implementation.
"Every violator will receive a notice and seven days to comply. Our immediate focus will be buildings that pose an imminent threat to life and property," Barahate said, adding that the department would not hesitate to seal premises of persistent defaulters.
Mayor's Directive
With more than a thousand buildings already declared unsafe and hundreds facing utility disconnections, sealing or legal action, civic authorities appear determined to ensure fire-safety compliance is no longer treated as optional. The drive follows directions from Mayor Neeta Thakre, who instructed the fire department to move beyond notices and initiate stringent action against violators. Fire Committee Chairperson Rupali Thakur is closely monitoring the exercise.
