NAGPUR: Fire safety compliance remains a significant issue in various areas of Nagpur, with over 90% of inspected buildings found violating crucial fire safety regulations in certain fire station jurisdictions. This information was disclosed by the NMC’s fire and emergency services department under the Right to Information (RTI) Act. The data, compiled from responses from individual fire stations for the period from 2023 to May 2026, highlights a concerning level of non-compliance despite regular inspections by the civic fire department.
Among the fire stations, Sugat Nagar reported the highest violations, with 339 out of 373 inspected premises failing to meet mandatory fire safety standards, resulting in a non-compliance rate of nearly 91%. Ganjipeth fire station reported that every one of the 95 premises inspected during this period did not comply with fire safety requirements.
This troubling trend continued in the Trimurti Nagar fire station jurisdiction, where 88 out of 97 inspected properties were found lacking compliance. Additionally, the Sakkardara fire station identified violations in 17 out of 26 inspections, while the Civil fire station noted 25 violations in 79 inspections.
Narendra Nagar fire station reported 26 non-compliant premises out of 167 inspections, and the Lakadganj fire station recorded 16 commercial establishments violating fire safety regulations. Kalamna and Cotton Market fire stations also conducted a large number of inspections but did not provide specific violation details in their RTI responses.
The RTI responses indicated that the department processed Fire No Objection Certificate (NOC) applications efficiently, with no backlog. It issued 616 Fire NOCs in 2023-24, 929 in 2024-25, 718 in 2025-26, and 152 NOCs up to May 2026. During this timeframe, applications were rejected 69 times in 2023-24, 40 in 2024-25, 47 in 2025-26, and 9 up to May 2026, with no pending applications.
The department also generated significant revenue through Fire NOC fees, collecting INR 11.69 crore in 2023, INR 19 crore in 2024, INR 15.69 crore in 2025, and INR 8.63 crore up to May 31, 2026.
According to central department records, 1,557 fire incidents were reported between January 1, 2025, and May 31, 2026, with no fatalities due to fires during this time. The fire department conducted 670 rescue operations in 2023, 711 in 2024, 606 in 2025, and 273 until May 2026, claiming to have saved property worth over INR 852 crore in 2023, INR 788 crore in 2024, INR 823 crore in 2025, and approximately INR 659 crore until May 2026.
A detailed response from Lakadganj fire station indicated that the 16 non-compliant establishments included seven mercantile buildings, three commercial establishments, and five business premises. The station recorded 164 fire incidents from 2025 to May 2026, with no fatalities. Its rescue teams managed to save 89 lives in 2023, 11 in 2024, and 5 in 2025, minimizing property losses substantially.
The RTI data reveals a stark contrast in the city’s fire safety management. While the department has promptly processed Fire NOC applications and reported zero fire-related deaths during the specified period, the high percentage of buildings failing to comply with mandatory fire safety standards in various fire station jurisdictions indicates ongoing issues in compliance and enforcement.
