Over 80 PG buildings in Delhi vulnerable, 4 dangerous to live, finds survey
A safety survey of 2,453 PG buildings across Delhi has flagged four buildings as visually dangerous, with 89 people living in them, while 85 other buildings have been identified as potentially vulnerable due to possible weaknesses in their load-bearing or framed structures.
The survey by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi also found 121 buildings requiring repairs, including 30 categorised as needing major repairs, with Civil Lines and the South Zone emerging as key areas of concern. Among the buildings requiring repairs, 30 have been identified with major structural issues requiring immediate attention.
Meanwhile, as many as 2,342 buildings, or approximately 95.5 per cent of those inspected, were visually safe, according to the survey.
The safety survey was initiated after a five-storey building housing a boys' hostel in a congested bylane in Satya Niketan near Delhi University's South Campus collapsed, killing seven people, on September 6.
The four buildings identified as visually dangerous house a combined 89 residents. Three of the four buildings are located in the South Zone, where 69 people live in the affected buildings. The remaining dangerous building is in the Keshav Puram Zone and houses 20 people.
A detailed engineering inspection of all four buildings will now be required to assess their structural condition and determine the safety measures needed for their occupants.
The survey also identified 85 buildings as potentially vulnerable.
Of these, eight buildings, housing 205 residents, were found to have potentially weak load-bearing structures. Another 77 buildings, housing 2,766 residents, were identified as potentially having weak framed structures.KEY FINDINGS OF THE SURVEY2,342 buildings were visually safe, housing 48,524 residents91 buildings require minor repairs, housing 1,723 residents30 buildings require major repairs, housing 448 residents4 buildings were visually dangerous, housing 89 residents8 buildings have potentially weak load-bearing structures, housing 205 residents77 buildings have potentially weak framed structures, housing 2,766 residents
One of the most significant findings came from the South Zone, where all 56 buildings in one division were found to be potentially vulnerable.
The buildings were flagged because they have framed structures exceeding the permitted height threshold of G+4 -- a ground floor plus four upper floors.
These buildings together house more than 2,100 residents, making this cluster a particular area of concern identified by the survey.
Another area requiring attention was Civil Lines, where 38 buildings were found to require minor repairs and 26 required major repairs. In addition, one building with a potentially weak load-bearing structure and five buildings with potentially weak framed structures were identified.
In Karol Bagh, most of the surveyed buildings were found to be safe. Five buildings were classified as requiring minor repairs and one as requiring major repairs. The survey also identified six potentially weak framed structures.
In Najafgarh, 10 buildings were identified as requiring minor repairs and two as requiring major repairs. Two potentially weak framed structures were also identified.
However, the survey showed comparatively better findings in Narela, Rohini, City SP, Shahdara North, West and Central zones.- EndsPublished By: Ajmal Published On: Sep 16, 2026 07:21 IST
