The West Bengal government’s Department of Urban Development and Municipal Affairs issued a memorandum on May 6, following the tragic fire at a hotel in Burrabazar that claimed 14 lives. The memorandum includes 20 guidelines aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.
It reads: “In recent past, some untoward fire incidents, even loss of life occurred in various urban areas due to negligent attitude of the owners of the building… (and activities) which are definitive contraventions of the relevant provisions of the West Bengal Municipal (Building) Rules, 2007 and the Kolkata Municipal Corporation Building Rules, 2009.”
According to the memorandum, every terrace on the topmost storey of any building shall be open to common access and should not be subdivided. Access to the roof cannot be obstructed by any means. All vertical and horizontal exits – including doorways, corridors, passageways to staircases, ramps, verandahs, or terraces – must be clearly demarcated, well-lit, free of obstructions, and fitted with alarm devices.
Furthermore, it says that escalators and lifts should not be considered as exits. However, lifts and their lobbies and shafts may be considered fire escape routes if they meet the requirements of the West Bengal Fire Services Act, 1950.
All basements must have a minimum of two exits. As a fire protection measure, all buildings are required to install sprinklers to aid fire suppression.
In buildings with mixed occupancy (such as a mix of commercial and residential), separate staircases should ideally be provided for each type and floor. Stairwells must not be used for storing goods at any level. The minimum width of passageways or corridors must be maintained according to the building’s designated use group and respective rule provisions.
Only important structures such as stair covers, lift machine rooms, roof tanks with supports, chimneys, service equipment, toilets, gardens (with or without permeable covers), communication equipment, and service rooms will be allowed on roof terraces. No inflammable goods are to be stored in basements.
To facilitate movement of fire tenders, several measures must be followed:
The mutation (legal transfer of ownership) of open roofs, rooftops, or terraces at the topmost storey — if sold separately in multi-unit buildings — is not permissible. Rooftops are barred from mutation, and Urban Local Bodies (ULBs) must reject any non-compliant proposals.
Action will be taken for violations. The memorandum states: “The ULBs shall refrain from approving any proposal that contravenes these provisions, as the online system is already configured to enforce compliance. The ULBs shall conduct periodic inspections of high-risk or vulnerable buildings…”
Firhad Hakim, Mayor of Kolkata, said the civic body had prepared a draft Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) regarding rooftop bars and restaurants, which has been submitted to the Bengal Chief Secretary for approval. Discussions between restaurateurs and the administration are underway.
“All sanctioned building plans across Bengal will henceforth mention that the roof is a common area and cannot be subdivided. The urban development department has issued a notification about this,” Hakim said on Wednesday.
Last week, the Calcutta High Court gave the Kolkata Municipal Corporation two weeks to take a fresh call on rooftop restaurants that were served stop-work and demolition notices by the civic body.