DDA, key agency for approving Delhi buildings, gets first fire safety NOC for Vikas Minar after two decades

The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has secured a fire no-objection certificate (NOC) for its central office building, Vikas Minar, for the first time since 2001. The Delhi Fire Services (DFS) issued the clearance on August 6, stating that the premises meet fire safety norms and are fit for business occupancy for three years, subject to safety conditions, a TOI report stated.

Long delay due to unresolved safety issues

For over 20 years, the DDA's Vikas Minar faced repeated refusals to renew its fire safety certificate. Each inspection found serious deficiencies, preventing the renewal. The most recent denial came in April 2025, when DFS noted that problems highlighted in 2022 remained unaddressed.

According to the NOC letter, "It is certified that Vikas Minar DDA building in ITO—comprising a basement, ground, and 22 upper floors—was earlier granted NOC by the department in Jan 2001. Now, the premises were re-inspected by the officers concerned of this department on July 23 in the presence of fire consultants and executive engineers. It was found that the said building is deemed to have complied with the fire prevention and fire safety requirements in accordance with Rule 33 of the Delhi Fire Services Rules, 2010, and the premises are fit for business occupancy with effect from Aug 6 for a period of three years, in accordance with Rule 36."

Conditional clearance and management responsibility

The DFS made it clear that the NOC is conditional. "Any loss of life or property due to non-functional fire safety measures shall be the responsibility of the management, and any deviation in the construction shall be verified by the concerned building sanctioning authority," the department stated.

History and previous inspection findings

Vikas Minar, constructed in 1976, was the first building in Delhi taller than the Qutub Minar. It houses offices of several DDA departments. In June 2022, DFS found significant safety issues during inspection. These included unsealed electrical shafts, non-working fire detectors on some floors, insufficient sprinkler coverage, and staircases and lift lobbies cluttered with furniture and storage. These shortcomings were formally reported to the then DDA commissioner-cum-secretary.

Locals had pointed out the irony of DDA, the main housing authority for the city, not having a valid fire safety certificate for its own busy headquarters.

Fire clearance for DDA’s INA Colony office

Separately, DDA’s headquarters in INA Colony, South Delhi, received a fire NOC on July 7 after six years without clearance. The certificate, valid for three years, covers blocks A, B, and D, with conditions including removal of basement encroachments within three months or risk of certificate revocation. The INA Colony office blocks share a common basement, with varying floor heights across the blocks.