Following the initiation of inspections by the New Town Kolkata Development Authority (NKDA) on all commercial establishments in New Town, the Nabadiganta Industrial Township Authority (NDITA) has also resolved to carry out a comprehensive fire safety audit of all structures situated in Sector V.
According to officials, fire audits for the majority of buildings within NDITA are performed at regular intervals. However, in light of recent fire incidents in various buildings in and around the city, as well as numerous establishments found to be in violation of fire safety regulations, the authorities have opted to enhance their inspection efforts. “There are approximately 250 office buildings in Sector V, housing nearly 1,500 companies.
Last year, a fire safety audit was conducted for 204 buildings in Sector V, and the results were communicated to each building owner for necessary compliance,” stated an official. Recently, NDITA issued stop-operation notices to nine rooftop restaurants within the IT township due to ‘serious discrepancies’ in fire safety and compliance protocols. Officials indicated that the intensive fire audit will encompass a detailed evaluation of the fire safety measures currently in place, identifying any existing gaps, and recommending enhancements that may be required. Special emphasis will also be placed on evaluating the current state of roads.
In many areas, the roads have been constricted due to vehicle parking and encroachments by stalls on both sides, which obstructs the movement of fire tenders during emergencies, noted an IT executive. Such congested conditions are evident on the route connecting Godrej Waterside to College More, along Webel More, and the internal roads near RDB Boulevard Mall.
To facilitate the unobstructed movement of fire tenders, officials are already devising plans to reduce roadside parking by creating alternative arrangements. “Thorough fire audits of all buildings are essential, as foot traffic has significantly increased, with nearly two lakh employees working in this area,” remarked Kalyan Kar, Vice President of the Sector V Stakeholders Association.
