Mumbai: Non-Operational Fire Safety Systems In High-Rises Endanger Lives; BMC Proposes Fines Through Property Tax For Non-Compliance

Mumbai: Recent fire incidents have shown that many high-rise buildings in the city have non-working fire safety systems. This is a big problem because it puts lives at risk and makes rescue efforts tough. Building owners are supposed to keep their fire safety measures up to date and submit a ‘Form B’ certificate twice a year. But some haven’t done it, even after being reminded multiple times.

Just recently, a senior citizen sadly died from suffocation in a fire at a high-rise in Andheri West. Fire officials found that the building’s internal fire-fighting system wasn’t working. With so many tall buildings going up in the city, having a reliable fire-fighting system is super important. When these systems fail, firefighters have to rely on external equipment, which can be a hassle to get to the higher floors.

According to the Maharashtra Fire Prevention & Life Safety Measures Act, every building owner must ensure fire safety measures are in place. They also need to provide a certificate from a licensed agency twice a year to show that their fire safety equipment is maintained. In December 2024, many establishments were inspected, and some were found with non-operational systems, leading to notices for repairs.

Each housing society has a maximum of 120 days to fix any issues with their fire-fighting systems. If they don’t start repairs within 30 days, they could face action. However, legal processes can take a long time, so the BMC is looking to impose fines through property tax to encourage compliance. This could push societies to take fire safety more seriously.

Common issues found include blocked staircases, missing sprinklers, and faulty fire alarms. The data from the fire department shows that fire calls have been increasing, highlighting the urgent need for better safety measures in the city.