A structural safety audit is now required for 276 high-rise buildings in Lucknow. This directive has been issued by the Lucknow Development Authority. Among these, 58 are owned by the LDA, while 218 are privately owned. All 276 structures range in age from 5 to 40 years.
This decision was made following the collapse of the Alaya Apartment in 2023 and a commercial building in Transport Nagar the previous year. In response to these incidents, LDA officials prepared a proposal that was approved by the board in September of last year. According to the regulation, any building exceeding 15 meters in height will undergo a structural audit every five years.
Although the implementation of this rule was delayed, it is now set to commence as the state government has incorporated the safety audit into the building bylaws. The safety audit will assess the structural integrity of buildings, including their walls, columns, beams, and foundations. Based on the results, recommendations for repairs or demolition will be made if necessary.
LDA officials have stated that recent structural audits of 150 buildings conducted by IIT Kanpur uncovered significant safety issues in certain structures. The audit revealed critical structural problems at the Nanda Kheda Complex, which was deemed highly unsafe. In a separate evaluation, the Amritlal Naagar Auditorium in Chowk, assessed by an architect empanelled by the LDA, was found to be 70% structurally safe, with 30% of the structure exhibiting signs of damage.
The Vikas Deep Building on Station Road was noted to have weak brick masonry, although the overall structure remained largely stable. LDA Vice Chairman Prathmesh Kumar remarked, “The safety audit will be conducted for the first time after 10 years of completion. Recent incidents have highlighted the dangers posed by aging and poorly maintained structures. Making these audits mandatory is essential to prevent future tragedies and to ensure public safety.”
