Gurugram Fire Survey Finds 1,002 Establishments Lacking Mandatory NOCs
A fire safety survey conducted by the Gurugram fire department over the past month has revealed that 1,002 out of 1,517 inspected establishments lack mandatory fire No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) and adequate firefighting equipment. The ongoing inspections, which are being coordinated from local fire stations including the one in Sector 29, have exposed widespread non-compliance across high-rise buildings, hotels, and paying guest (PG) accommodations in the city.
The survey revealed a near-total lack of compliance among PG accommodations, with 622 out of 623 surveyed operating without a valid fire NOC. Additionally, 77 out of 93 inspected hotels, 125 out of 153 restaurants, and 20 out of 25 guest houses were found to be operating without the required fire clearances.
According to fire officials, the most common safety deficiencies identified during the inspections include expired or empty fire extinguishers, non-functional fire alarms, broken smoke detection systems, and a complete absence of basic firefighting infrastructure such as sprinkler systems and water pipelines.
The fire department has issued show-cause notices to 158 high-rise buildings, including both residential and commercial properties, out of the 623 inspected so far. In total, the department has identified 1,617 high-rise buildings across Gurugram for inspection.
Narendra Yadav, the fire safety officer at the Sector 29 fire station, stated that the majority of the non-compliant high-rises are residential buildings. He noted that the department has given these properties a stipulated time period to take corrective action, after which follow-up inspections will be conducted. Yadav added that most PG accommodations lack basic equipment like fire extinguishers, and notices are being served to them.
Defaulters are being given a time-bound window to install the required fire safety equipment and apply for or renew their fire NOCs. Under the National Building Code and the Haryana Fire and Emergency Services Act regulations, all buildings taller than 15 metres must obtain a fire NOC and install essential safety systems.
The city-wide survey was initiated following a fire in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar on June 3, which resulted in the deaths of 23 people at an illegally operated bed-and-breakfast facility.
The inspections are being carried out by seven dedicated teams. However, officials noted that the Gurugram fire department is currently facing resource constraints, operating with only 248 officers and firefighters, which is almost half of the required manpower. The department manages fire stations across several areas, including Sector 29, Udyog Vihar, Bhim Nagar, Sector-37, Pataudi, Manesar, and Sohna.
