MCD Flags Seven Dangerous Buildings in Karol Bagh Out of 28 Lakh Surveyed Across Delhi
The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) identified seven dangerous buildings in Karol Bagh out of just 19 flagged citywide during its annual pre-monsoon survey of nearly 28 lakh properties. The low number of unsafe structures detected across Delhi has raised serious concerns among residents and structural experts about the credibility and effectiveness of the inspection exercise.
Ahead of the June 15 completion deadline, the MCD has completed approximately 85 percent of its survey, inspecting about 27.8 lakh properties against a target of 32.5 lakh this year. The annual exercise, which typically takes three to four months, is conducted by teams from the civic body's maintenance and buildings departments.
Apart from the seven dangerous buildings identified in Karol Bagh, the survey flagged four in Sadar Bazar, four in the West zone, two in Najafgarh, and one each in Narela and the South zones. Additionally, 74 structures were found to require repairs or retrofitting.
Action on most of these properties remains pending. While one dangerous structure in Karol Bagh has been demolished by its owner and another building in the South zone has been sealed, no action has been taken on the remaining 17 unsafe structures.
MCD officials admitted that the inspections are limited to external visual assessments because teams are generally not permitted inside private properties. Junior engineers inspect the buildings from the outside for visible signs of distress, such as cracks, tilting, sagging, or unauthorized commercial activities. A detailed structural audit is conducted only if deemed necessary.
However, structural experts have cast doubt on the scale of the operation. Structural engineer Aditya Sharma stated that even a visual survey takes considerable time. He noted that even with a workforce of 1,000 trained personnel, it would take nearly 1,400 working days to cover 28 lakh buildings, making the MCD's reported figures hard to believe.
Residents also expressed skepticism, noting that many buildings in densely populated areas sit in narrow lanes where little can be assessed from the outside.
