Ghaziabad to Make Structural Audits Mandatory for Buildings
The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) is gearing up for its first board meeting of the year on January 27, and the big topic on the agenda is a new proposal that could impact multi-storey buildings across the city. The proposal calls for compulsory structural audits every three years to ensure the safety and stability of buildings—something that has become even more crucial with the growing number of high-rise developments.
Earlier this week, the Meerut divisional commissioner held a meeting to discuss this proposal, which will be presented to the GDA board. Under the new plan, developers would be required to carry out structural audits of their buildings, and if maintenance responsibility is handed over to an apartment owners’ association (AOA), they would take on this responsibility as well. The proposal also recommends using trusted institutions like IITs, NITs, and other similar organizations to carry out these audits, ensuring that only experts assess the buildings.
If approved, the GDA will adopt the same structural audit policy that was previously introduced by the Uttar Pradesh government. This move is seen as a way to improve building safety and ensure that the right people are held accountable when issues arise.
What Will the Structural Audits Policy Look Like?
The proposed policy divides building defects into two categories: major and minor. Major defects include serious issues like cracks in the foundation, walls, or floors, while minor defects involve things like peeling plaster. If a major issue is found, the maintenance agency will have to fix it within six months, with work starting within a month of the audit. Minor defects also need to be fixed within six months, and the maintenance agency would bear the costs.
Ashish Kumar, a resident of the Supertech Icon Society in Indirapuram, shared his concerns about the risks of structural issues. He explained that there have been cases where buildings weakened over time, leading to dangerous situations like ceiling collapses and falling plaster. He also pointed out that developers often distance themselves from these issues once they hand over the building, leaving the AOA or resident welfare associations (RWAs) to handle repairs—often hesitating due to the cost.
While there hasn’t been a solid mechanism for dealing with these structural issues in the past, Kumar believes that this new proposal could finally provide a solution by fixing accountability and giving agencies clear deadlines for making repairs.
Given that Delhi-NCR is in seismic zone-4, the potential risks of structural defects are even more pressing, especially with the threat of earthquakes. Regular structural audits would go a long way in protecting residents and ensuring that buildings are safe to live in.
As the GDA prepares to vote on the proposal, it’s clear that this move could be a game-changer for building safety in Ghaziabad.
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