Risky Buildings in Mumbai Mysteriously Reduce From 95 to 69

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had estimated about 4 months ago during the onset of monsoon that the number of extremely dangerous buildings on its list in Mumbai was 95. These buildings were identified as easily prone to collapse. However, the number of extremely dangerous buildings has drastically reduced to 69. There is an uncertainty about how the number drastically fell within the last four months.

Reasons for removing buildings off the list

The list of extremely dangerous buildings was prepared by the planning and designing department of BMC. According to the list, 95 buildings were added to the C1 category. The main reason given for the drastic reduction in the number of dangerous buildings on the list is that residents in many C1 buildings have hired private structural auditors for checking building details after having been issued notices. Based on auditor reports, the buildings are being removed from the list and sometimes added to the C2B list (dilapidated buildings that can be repaired without vacating residents).

BMC currently doesn’t have a scientific method of auditing a building and categorizing it as dangerous or not. Most times the decision is based on reports from structural auditors. If the report says that the building can be repaired and need not be vacated, BMC doesn’t do much policing of the building. And due to the lack of policing, there may be several internal changes made to the building which make them eventually dangerous leading to collapse.

Buildings are also sometimes taken off the list after just a meeting of the residents with the ward officer, without proper inspection. Most of the pre-monsoon inspections that are carried out are visual and not detailed. Moreover, this happens very arbitrarily and can easily lead to building collapse.

The C1 and C2 categories of buildings

The civic body groups different buildings into different categories depending on how dangerous they are. The C1 category of buildings is those that are extremely dangerous and need to be evacuated immediately. These are very easily prone to collapse. The C2A list of buildings comprises of the buildings whose dangerous parts need to be demolished. The C2B category buildings are those which require major structural repairs.