Maharashtra Witnesses Enforcement of Safety Norms in High-Rise Buildings Following Persistent Construction Mishaps, as Decided by the Bombay High Court
The Bombay High Court has issued a series of directives to ensure the safety of pedestrians, motorists, and residents near high-rise construction sites in Mumbai. The orders follow a string of safety breaches and the absence of rules tailored to high-rise safety.
The court has scheduled a compliance check for August 22 and has instructed that the report, titled "Special Safety Control Recommendations for Working at Heights During High-Rise Construction," be implemented in its entirety. The report details the growing number of high-rise buildings in Mumbai and warns of frequent negligence and the absence of rules tailored to high-rise safety.
The expert committee's recommendations primarily include the appointment of a full-time safety team at all high-rise sites, strict supervision of crane operations, guidelines for crane operations, facade work, and installations at height, effective safeguarding of adjacent areas, and a professional safety licence for safety officers managing high-rise construction projects.
Following the Bombay High Court’s order, these recommendations have been implemented through several measures. The Maharashtra government, under the urban development department, has issued notifications directing the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and all municipal corporations, councils, and metropolitan authorities to enforce these safety protocols in all ongoing and future high-rise projects.
The court has mandated the Mumbai Municipal Corporation to incorporate these safety measures "in letter and spirit" into building permissions, making adherence mandatory before granting project approvals. The urban development department has been tasked to issue formal directives to ensure compliance across Maharashtra within ten days of the court order.
The safety guidelines and expert committee report have been made publicly available on all municipal corporations' websites and planning authorities to promote transparency and awareness. The BMC is introducing a professional safety licence requirement for safety officers on high-rise projects, an initiative aligned with committee recommendations to enhance professional accountability.
Enforcement includes mandatory on-site presence of the safety team during crane operations and other risky construction activities to strictly monitor compliance and prevent accidents. The orders follow the accident at the Metro Line 5 site in Bhiwandi and the incident in Worli where cement blocks fell, causing injuries and fatalities.
As of now, there are 181 buildings above 150 metres, 47 above 200 metres, and 24 above 250 metres in Mumbai, with the tallest, Lokhandwala Minerva, standing at 301.6 metres. There are 416 more high-rises over 150 metres currently under construction in Mumbai. The court has stated that authorities may update the recommendations to keep pace with modern techniques to ensure the best possible safety measures are adhered to.
The court's order applies to all high-rise or substantial-height projects in the specified regions and has been ordered all planning authorities in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and other cities in Maharashtra to implement the report in a similar manner. The court has expressed anguish over repeated safety breaches and noted that the recommendations of an expert safety committee had not been circulated to all planning authorities.
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- The court's orders for ensuring safety around high-rise construction sites in Mumbai could have significant implications for the finance industry, as investments in the real estate sector may be affected by the new safety measures.
- The Bombay High Court's decision to enforce safety protocols in high-rise construction projects within Maharashtra could potentially impact the politics and policy-and-legislation related to the industry, as it calls for swift action and updated regulations.
- In light of the increasing number of car-accidents in Mumbai's congested roads, there is a growing need for infrastructure improvements and safety measures, such as those mandated by the Bombay High Court for high-rise constructions sites.
- The general news outlets have extensively covered the Bombay High Court's orders for improving safety in high-rise construction projects, shedding light on the importance of crime-and-justice in ensuring public safety within the urban environment.
- Despite the implementation of safety measures following the court's orders, there are concerns over the potential for accidents and rule violations in high-rise projects across India, given the country's rapid urbanization and growing number of high-rises.
