7 malls and retail stores face fire-safety checks
Times of India | 11 September 2026At least seven shopping centres and retail establishments in and around Kolkata were inspected on the second day of the exercise. The audits covered City Centre I in Salt Lake, City Centre II in New Town, Westside and Pantaloons at 22 Camac Street, Max at James Long Sarani in Behala, Pantaloons in Kankurgachhi and Forum Rangoli Mall in Howrah’s Belur. Shopping centres in Siliguri and Darjeeling were also inspected.
The establishments are among 29 shopping centres identified across the state, including in Kolkata, Howrah, Durgapur and Darjeeling, for inspections through Sept 18.
Fire officials said the checks went beyond visible firefighting equipment.
Teams inspected stores, food courts, restaurants, multiplexes and basements to ascertain whether fire-safety installations were functional and establishments were prepared for emergencies.
Particular attention was paid to kitchens. Officials checked the type of cooking being used and arrangements to prevent or contain fires originating in kitchen areas. They also checked whether firefighting equipment and other safety mechanisms were operational.
Officials said strict action would be taken against establishments where firefighting arrangements were inadequate.
An official at Ambuja Neotia-operated City Centre I and II said the teams were satisfied with the preparedness. “They were at City Centre I for an hour and checked the sprinkler system and water pressure. At City Centre II, the team spent around three hours and visited restaurants and the multiple. They have made some suggestions which we will implement,” the official said.
The inspection at City Centre comes a day before CM Suvendu Adhikari’s scheduled visit to inaugurate a record-sized wardrobe.
