Delhi is preparing to change its fire-safety system by introducing qualified third-party auditors to inspect safety arrangements in buildings, while also developing a faster emergency response mechanism to reduce casualties and property loss during fires.
The proposed changes will require amendments to the rules governing the Delhi Fire Service. According to information reported by Jagran, auditors and architects empanelled with the municipal corporation will be listed and trained to assess fire-safety arrangements in buildings. The plan is intended to expand the capacity of the existing inspection system through trained external professionals.
Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood said the government wants to develop a modern, fast and fully capable emergency response system in the capital. His statement followed a recent review meeting chaired by Lieutenant Governor T.S. Sandhu, where an action plan for changing the city’s firefighting arrangements was prepared.
The proposed framework is being shaped around risks identified in different parts of Delhi, including narrow lanes, high population density and traffic congestion. These conditions can make it difficult for fire tenders and emergency personnel to reach affected buildings quickly. The plan therefore links building-level safety inspections with wider concerns about emergency access and response time.
The review also considered risks associated with overloaded electricity wires and the increasing use of plastic and artificial decorative materials inside homes. These factors were identified as contributing to fire hazards in the city. The report did not provide a separate estimate of the number of buildings that would initially be covered by the proposed third-party inspection system or specify when the amended rules would come into effect.
Under the proposed arrangement, the municipal corporation’s existing panel of auditors and architects would form the pool from which trained inspectors could be selected. The available information does not establish whether inspections would be mandatory for all buildings or whether different requirements would apply based on building use, height, occupancy or location. Those details are expected to depend on the rule amendments and the implementation framework.
The proposal comes as Delhi seeks to address the operational challenges created by its dense and varied urban form. In older and more crowded areas, narrow streets and congestion can affect the movement of emergency vehicles. At the building level, however, the government’s plan places emphasis on checking whether fire-safety arrangements are in place, creating a potential link between regulatory compliance and the city’s emergency response system.
The government has not announced a final notification, inspection schedule or training timetable in the information available. The immediate next step is the proposed amendment of the Delhi Fire Service rules and the preparation of the panel of trained third-party auditors and architects.
