Over 3 lakh Mumbai buildings lag on fire compliance, only 2 per cent renew certificates

Screengrabs from a video of the blaze at Shanta Bhuvan society. Pic/By Special Arrangement

More than 3 lakh buildings in Mumbai aren't up to date with their fire compliance. Mumbai Fire Brigade (MFB) data reviewed by mid-day revealed that in the last two quarters, only approximately 2 per cent of the city's buildings completed the mandatory self-renewal of their fire compliance certificate.

Shanta Bhuvan building on Baptista Road in Vile Parle West hours after the fire was doused on Wednesday. PIC/RITIKA GONDHALEKAR

"The total number of Form B received on the MCGM portal for the January to June 2026 period was 6448," stated an official from the MFB Head Office. This is a common figure as there aren't any separate provisions for residential or commercial categories, as per the official.

Official Speak

The 11th floor of the high-rise is completely blackened by smoke

A senior officer, MFB's Head Office
‘Citizens are supposed to file their self-compliance. Fire officials can recommend appropriate penal action for non-compliant establishments but we lack direct powers and violators usually end up escaping consequences. We conduct inspections but there are only a few hundred fire officials for over a crore residents. Self-compliance will only improve if citizens become aware and self-motivated for their own safety. Is it essential to provide the fire department with additional staff for inspection so the fleet can help alongside'

Dangerous living

The figures reveal that Mumbaikars residing or working in any of the remaining approximately 98 per cent of establishments which are not fire-compliant could face dangerous situations when a crisis strikes, such as in the case of Shanta Bhuvan society, in Vile Parle West on August 11. Senior fire officials said that the society's fire safety system functioned only partially, delaying vital emergency response.

Expert Speak

Vilas Nagalkar, architect, member of Practising Engineers, Architects & Town Planners Association (PEATA)
‘The primary reason many societies don't end up submitting Form B is they don't see any downside to it. In most cases, there isn't any strict penal action like hefty fines, cutting off the water supply, and electricity supply. There also isn't any monetary incentive for compliance, so societies end up not treating it as a priority every six months. This shouldn't be the case because filing fire compliance form B is for the safety of citizens, and everyone should insist that their society is compliant'

Notice to society

The MFB issued an ultimatum to Shanta Bhuvan society, instructing fire compliance on Thursday, after a blaze claimed the lives of a 2.5-year-old and his 23-year-old nanny. MFB observed that the society hadn't filed their form B for self fire compliance under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention & Life Safety Measures Act, 2006.

Reasons for non-compliance

>> Lack of awareness in residents
>> Lack of priority, lethargy by committee members
>> Delayed actual occupation of buildings after receiving OC
>> Fear of audit failure in commercial and residential establishments which misuse space provision for fire escapes, fire exits, refuge area, etc.
>> Older buildings assuming newer fire compliance provisions don't apply to them
>> Lack of substantial penalties for non-compliance

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