Pune: PCMC makes it mandatory to do structural audit of more than 30-year-old buildings by owners at their expense

The Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation (PCMC) has mandated that buildings older than 30 years must undergo a structural audit to ensure that they are safe for residing in them.

The owners of both residential and commercial buildings must obtain a structural audit certificate from a PCMC-licensed structural engineer and the expenses for the audit have to be paid by the citizens, said City Engineer Makrand Nikam in a press release from PCMC.

According to the notification of the State Government and as per section 265 (a) of the Maharashtra Municipal Corporation Act, the old buildings or properties must be inspected and repaired by a licensed civil engineer of the Municipal Corporation. There is also a provision to submit a certificate regarding the construction being in good condition. Accordingly, it is mandatory to audit the old buildings.

It has been made mandatory for the owners, heirs and occupants of all the buildings within the limits of Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, whose construction is 30 years old, to obtain a certificate from a licensed civil engineer of the Municipal Corporation regarding the construction of the buildings in good condition. It has been made mandatory to obtain this certificate every 10 years.

Nikam, further, informed that the civic body has identified around 150 dilapidated buildings, and the owners are asked to conduct repair, evacuate and demolish the structure as per the condition of the building.

“The owners who fail to conduct the structural audit PCMC will not give them permission for redevelopment. Also, fines will be collected from the owner when they approach us for redevelopment,” he said.

It is important for a licensed civil engineer to have a license from the Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation to give a certificate to the building owners that the old construction is in good condition. For this, the civil engineer should apply with the necessary documents to the PCMC. After verification of applications and documents, a fee of Rs 1,000 will be charged. The civil engineer will then be given a licence for three years.

Civil engineers must fulfill the terms and conditions to obtain a license from the PCMC.