Curation Team
NAGPUR: Mixed-use buildings have emerged as one of Nagpur’s biggest fire hazards, with recent incidents at Reliance Fresh Mart in Laxmi Nagar’s Aath Rasta Square and Mini Punjab Hotel in Dharampeth exposing the grave risks faced by residents living above commercial establishments.
These buildings, which combine residential and business use, are now under the scanner of the Nagpur Municipal Corporation’s (NMC) fire and emergency services department after a citywide audit revealed widespread violations of safety norms.
The audit covered 390 mixed-occupancy buildings across Nagpur, of which the civic body has record, and found that 186 of them lacked essential fire safety measures such as alarms, extinguishers, hydrants, and emergency exits. Another 139 structures were declared unsafe for habitation or operation, while 97 are facing power and water disconnection for ignoring repeated NMC notices. Officials say these figures are alarming because such buildings are often densely populated and have complex layouts, making evacuation difficult during emergencies.
Municipal commissioner Abhijeet Chaudhari has already issued orders to take stringent action against establishments ignoring firefighting safety measures and violating sanctioned plans.
“Mixed-use structures are particularly vulnerable because they combine the risks of both residential and commercial properties,” said a senior NMC fire officer. “Many buildings have shops or restaurants on the ground floor with families living above. In several cases, electrical wiring is overloaded, escape routes are blocked, and safety equipment is either absent or non-functional.”
The fire at Reliance Fresh Mart, where residents were evacuated through balconies amid plumes of smoke, has become a warning sign for civic authorities. Similarly, the Mini Punjab Hotel blaze revealed violations such as obstructed exits and faulty wiring. Both incidents could have led to major casualties had these occurred during business hours.
Despite repeated directives under the Maharashtra Fire Prevention and Life Safety Measures Act, many property owners continue to ignore compliance requirements. The NMC has now begun issuing final disconnection notices to non-compliant buildings, and officials say sealing orders may follow if corrective measures are not taken immediately.
Experts warn that the problem is systemic. In several older areas such as Sitabuldi, Dharampeth, Dhantoli, and Laxmi Nagar, commercial establishments have been added to residential buildings without structural reinforcements or fire prevention upgrades. “These unauthorised conversions have turned once-safe residential pockets into ticking time bombs,” said an urban planner.
Rapid commercialisation, lax enforcement, and limited awareness among residents have together created a dangerous situation. With nearly half of the city’s mixed-occupancy buildings violating fire safety norms, Nagpur stands at serious risk of a large-scale disaster if authorities and citizens continue to turn a blind eye to preventive measures.
