NAGPUR: The rise of mixed-use buildings has become one of Nagpur’s most pressing fire hazards, highlighted by recent incidents at Reliance Fresh Mart in Laxmi Nagar’s Aath Rasta Square and Mini Punjab Hotel in Dharampeth. These events underscore the serious risks faced by residents living above commercial businesses.
The Nagpur Municipal Corporation (NMC) fire and emergency services has initiated a review following a citywide audit that found widespread safety violations. The audit assessed 390 mixed-occupancy buildings, revealing that 186 lacked fundamental fire safety features like alarms, extinguishers, hydrants, and emergency exits. Additionally, 139 structures were deemed unsafe for habitation, and 97 are facing disconnection of utilities for ignoring previous NMC warnings. Officials express concern due to the dense population in these structures and their complicated layouts, which complicate evacuation during emergencies.
Municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari has mandated strict action against establishments that overlook fire safety protocols and breach approved building plans.
A senior NMC fire official noted, “Mixed-use structures are particularly at risk because they combine the hazards of both residential and commercial spaces. Many have shops or restaurants on the ground floor with families living above. Issues like overloaded electrical wiring, blocked escape routes, and absent or non-functional safety equipment are common.”
The fire at Reliance Fresh Mart, which led to the evacuation of residents via balconies amidst smoke, has served as a critical warning for local authorities. Similarly, the blaze at Mini Punjab Hotel unveiled significant violations, including blocked exits and faulty wiring. Both incidents could have resulted in severe injuries or fatalities if they had occurred during business hours.
Despite repeated advisories under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, many property owners continue to disregard compliance. The NMC has started issuing final disconnection notices to non-compliant buildings, warning that sealing orders may follow if immediate corrective actions are not taken.
Experts identify a systemic issue, particularly in older neighborhoods like Sitabuldi, Dharampeth, Dhantoli, and Laxmi Nagar, where commercial businesses have been introduced into residential buildings without proper structural support or fire safety upgrades. An urban planner cautioned, “Such unauthorized conversions have transformed previously safe residential areas into potential disaster zones.”
The rapid pace of commercialization, coupled with lax enforcement and a lack of awareness among residents, has created a precarious situation. With nearly half of the city’s mixed-occupancy buildings violating fire safety regulations, Nagpur risks facing a significant disaster if both authorities and citizens continue to neglect preventive measures.
