As of May 21, 2025, Indian cities face mounting pressure to conduct mandatory fire safety audits for aging buildings, driven by recent fire incidents in Mumbai, Delhi, and Kolkata. These audits, involving inspections of electrical systems, fire exits, and sprinklers, aim to ensure compliance with the National Building Code (NBC) 2016. With urban fires causing 7,500 deaths annually, the Ministry of Home Affairs is pushing local bodies to enforce audits to safeguard lives and heritage structures.

Rising Fire Risks in Urban India

India’s older buildings, especially in metros, are fire hazards due to outdated wiring, poor maintenance, and inadequate fire-fighting systems. Mumbai’s 2024 Kamala Mills fire and Delhi’s 2025 Mundka blaze exposed lapses in safety compliance, with 60% of buildings over 30 years old lacking NBC-mandated fire escapes. In Kolkata, heritage structures like Bow Barracks face risks from overloaded circuits. X posts highlight public outrage, with users demanding, “Why are old buildings ignored until disaster strikes?” Over 1.2 lakh fire incidents were reported in 2024, per NCRB data, costing ₹15,000 crore in damages.

The Need for Fire Safety Audits

Fire audits assess structural integrity, fire detection systems, and evacuation protocols. Cities like Bengaluru and Chennai have begun mandating audits for buildings over 15 meters, but enforcement lags. The NBC requires sprinklers, smoke detectors, and annual audits, yet only 20% of urban structures comply, per a 2025 FICCI report. Small-scale audits in Hyderabad’s Charminar area revealed 70% of shops lacked extinguishers. Experts urge retrofitting old buildings with modern systems, though costs—₹50,000–₹2 lakh per audit—burden owners.

Policy Push and Challenges

The Ministry’s 2025 guidelines urge municipal bodies to penalize non-compliant buildings, with Delhi proposing a ₹50,000 fine. However, corruption and lax oversight hinder progress, as seen in Mumbai’s 2024 audit scam. Public-private partnerships and AI-driven monitoring, like Chennai’s drone inspections, offer solutions. Citizens on X call for subsidized audits for heritage sites. With 40% of urban buildings pre-dating 1990, proactive audits are critical to prevent tragedies and preserve India’s architectural legacy.

-By Manoj H