Bareilly: Following the devastating fire incident in Lucknow, the Bareilly Development Authority (BDA) launched a major enforcement and inspection campaign across the city to assess fire safety preparedness and building compliance in commercial establishments. Acting on the directions of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath and under the guidance of Divisional Commissioner Bhupendra S. Chaudhary and District Magistrate Avinash Singh, the drive was led by BDA Vice-Chairperson Soumya Pandey.
On Tuesday, the Vice-Chairperson personally supervised the operation along with officials from the BDA enforcement wing, Fire Department, and local police. The joint team conducted extensive inspections of coaching centres, shopping malls, gyms, hospitals, hotels, libraries, and other commercial establishments to verify compliance with safety norms.
Two Hotels Sealed for Major Violations
During the inspection, Hotel Rajani and Hotel Satellite, located near the Satellite Bus Stand on Pilibhit Bypass Road, were found operating without approved building maps and were allegedly violating key regulatory requirements. Taking serious note of the irregularities, authorities sealed both establishments under the relevant provisions of the Uttar Pradesh Urban Planning and Development Act, 1973.
Officials stated that the action was taken in the interest of public safety and to prevent potential hazards.
Several Coaching Centres and Commercial Buildings Inspected
The inspection team examined numerous institutions and commercial facilities, including Matrix Gym (Kailash Tower, Civil Lines), Physics Wallah Vidyapeeth Coaching Centre, Vishal Mega Mart (Civil Lines), Aakash Coaching Centre (Chowki Chauraha), LA City Centre Mall, Mahendra Coaching (Rampur Garden), Divine Classes, Takshashila Coaching, Vintech Library, Gurukul Classes, Arihant Classes, and several other establishments.
Special attention was given to institutions operating in densely populated areas and narrow lanes, where emergency evacuation can become challenging during disasters.
Seven Key Safety Parameters Reviewed
Authorities carried out a detailed assessment of fire and building safety measures, focusing on:
- Availability of BDA-approved building plans.
- Compliance of lifts with prescribed technical standards.
- Possession of valid Fire Department No Objection Certificates (NOCs).
- Functionality of fire alarm systems.
- Availability and validity of fire extinguishers and firefighting equipment.
- Presence of emergency exits and evacuation routes.
- Overall disaster preparedness and safe evacuation arrangements.
Several institutions were issued notices and directed to rectify deficiencies within a stipulated timeframe.
Safety of Citizens a Top Priority
Speaking during the drive, BDA Vice-Chairperson Soumya Pandey emphasized that public safety remains the administration’s highest priority.
“No commercial establishment, hotel, coaching centre, mall, or institution will be allowed to compromise on safety standards. Strict action will continue against violators, and institutions found lacking in compliance must address deficiencies within the prescribed period,” she said.
Officials added that similar joint inspection campaigns will continue across the district to ensure adherence to fire safety regulations and prevent any incidents similar to the recent Lucknow tragedy.
The inspection was conducted in the presence of Circle Officer First Ashutosh Shivam, Chief Fire Officer Manu Sharma, and members of the BDA enforcement team.
Reported by Akhilesh Chandra Saxena, Bareilly.
