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Hyderabad, Sept 9 (PMI) HYDRA Commissioner A.V. Ranganath has directed hostel operators in Hyderabad to give top priority to the safety of students, employees and other residents, warning that no compromise would be permitted on fire safety, emergency exits or the structural stability of buildings.
Addressing a meeting with hostel operators and building owners at the HYDRA office on Wednesday, Ranganath said hostels should be operated only from structurally sound buildings having the required permissions and safety arrangements.
He said operators currently running hostels in hazardous or unsuitable buildings would be given a three-month grace period to shift to safer premises and advised them to make alternative arrangements at the earliest.
The Commissioner announced that inspections would begin from January 1, and buildings found to pose an immediate risk of collapse could face action, including demolition, in accordance with the applicable rules.
The move comes against the backdrop of recent building-related accidents. A building under construction collapsed at Anjayya Nagar in Gachibowli, resulting in two deaths and damage to nearby structures. Another hostel-building collapse reported in the national capital earlier this month reportedly claimed seven lives and left several others injured.
Ranganath said the incidents underline the need for preventive action rather than waiting for accidents to occur. He stressed that the government’s objective should be to prevent loss of life by identifying unsafe structures and correcting safety deficiencies in advance.
Inspections to be Coordinated with Three Corporations
The HYDRA Commissioner said inspections and subsequent action concerning hostels operating from unauthorised or unsafe buildings would be taken in coordination with the three municipal corporations concerned.
He cautioned hostel operators against compromising safety in an attempt to offer accommodation at lower prices. He urged them to provide proper accommodation and adequate safety facilities, particularly for students and young people staying away from their homes for education and employment.
“Safety should not be compromised for financial considerations,” he said, advising operators to consider the precautions they would expect if their own children were staying in such hostels.
Ranganath said operators should verify a building’s structural condition, permissions, emergency exits and accessibility before converting it into a hostel. They should also ensure that occupants can evacuate the premises quickly in the event of a fire or other emergency and that adequate parking and access facilities are available.
Referring to densely constructed buildings, he cautioned against putting up multi-storeyed structures on very small plots without adequate safety considerations, saying such practices could endanger not only occupants but also neighbouring buildings.
He said that following the Gachibowli incident, six other buildings in the surrounding area that were considered similarly hazardous were demolished. He also referred to a 2024 incident in nearby Siddiq Nagar in which a building reportedly tilted to one side.
During inspections of hostels at various locations, several alleged regulatory violations were noticed, he said, stressing the need for operators and property owners to rectify deficiencies.
HYDRA Additional Director Varla Papayya explained the causes and risks associated with building fires and highlighted precautions required to prevent such incidents. He also spoke about the risks associated with unauthorised structures and buildings whose permissions or safety-related approvals had expired, and presented videos illustrating potential hazards.
The HYDRA officials urged hostel operators and property owners to treat structural and fire safety as essential requirements rather than merely regulatory formalities. (pressmediaofindia.com)
