The Dhanbad Municipal Corporation office has become a safety hazard for employees and residents, with damaged ceiling sections at the main entrance posing a risk to people who visit daily for essential civic services. The municipal corporation has completed the tendering process for repairs, but renovation work is yet to begin.
The building is used by hundreds of people each day to pay holding and water taxes, obtain birth and death certificates and access other municipal services. Parts of the ceiling above the main entrance have collapsed several times, while other sections remain in a precarious condition.
The rear side of the building is also damaged, with debris frequently falling on the adjoining road, according to the report. The condition has raised concerns for both visitors and employees who pass through or wait near the structure.
Mahendra Kumar, who visited the office to obtain a birth certificate for his relative’s daughter, said falling ceiling pieces could cause a serious accident, particularly because visitors often stand beneath the damaged section while waiting for their work.
Manoram Nagar resident Vinod Kumar said portions of the building frequently fall off and alleged that officials had failed to act despite repeated complaints. The report did not specify the number of incidents or the total area affected by the structural damage.
Dhanbad Municipal Corporation commissioner Ashish Gangwar said the tendering process for repairs had been completed and renovation work would soon begin. Until the work starts, he appealed to people to avoid standing beneath the damaged portions of the building.
Gangwar also said warning notices would be put up at the site. The corporation has been operating from a rented building on the Mineral Area Development Authority campus for the past 10 years, while its own building remains under construction and is scheduled to be handed over by December this year.
