Lucknow: The Lucknow Development Authority (LDA) has announced a major enforcement drive against unauthorized commercial activities being run from building basements across the city. The decision was taken during a review meeting of enforcement operations chaired by LDA Chairman and Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant at the Parijat Auditorium of the Authority headquarters.
The meeting was attended by LDA Vice-Chairman Prathamesh Kumar, Secretary Vivek Srivastava, Chief Town Planner K. K. Gautam, Additional Secretary C. P. Tripathi, Joint Secretary Atul Kumar, Chief Engineer Manvendra Singh, along with zonal officers and engineers.
During the review, officials discussed findings from a joint inspection conducted by the LDA and the Fire Department following a recent deadly fire incident in Delhi. According to LDA Vice-Chairman Prathamesh Kumar, the joint survey covered 122 establishments across different zones, including hotels, guest houses, marriage lawns, banquet halls, and other commercial premises.
The inspections revealed multiple instances of unauthorized construction and violations of prescribed safety norms. Among the most significant findings were irregularities at the Renaissance Lucknow Hotel in Gomti Nagar. Officials reported that while the approved building plan designated the 16th floor as an open terrace, a sky bar was found operating at the location. The survey team also detected an illegally constructed basement beneath green belt land that had been allotted to the hotel management on lease.
At the Novotel Lucknow Gomti Nagar, areas designated for basement parking were reportedly being used for a bakery, staff rooms, and laundry facilities. Similar discrepancies were found at Hotel Lineage.
The inspection further revealed that the basement of Hotel Pinnacle in Ashiyana was being used as a banquet hall without authorization. At Hotel Savvy Grand in Vibhuti Khand, officials found that areas earmarked for parking in the basement had been converted into banquet and other commercial facilities.
Taking serious note of the violations, Divisional Commissioner Vijay Vishwas Pant directed officials to immediately issue notices to all establishments found violating building and safety regulations. He instructed that all unauthorized activities be stopped without delay and warned that premises could be sealed if owners or managers fail to rectify violations within the stipulated timeframe.
The Commissioner also ordered accountability measures against officials responsible for issuing completion certificates to buildings where clear instances of unauthorized construction have now come to light. Recommendations for action against such officials will be prepared wherever lapses are established.
Emphasizing public safety, Pant directed zonal officers to prepare a comprehensive list of high-footfall establishments, including hotels, coaching centres, computer training institutes, hospitals, nursing homes, gyms, and similar facilities. Special attention will be given to buildings where commercial activities are being conducted in basements.
He stressed that all such establishments must strictly comply with fire safety and structural safety standards, adding that the administration will intensify inspections to ensure public safety and prevent potential disasters arising from unauthorized construction and misuse of building spaces.
The enforcement drive is expected to lead to stricter monitoring of commercial establishments across Lucknow, particularly those operating in violation of approved building plans and safety regulations.
