MP Fire Act draft stalled for 6 years:Firefighting capacity capped at 52 m, buildings rise up to 75 m

The Municipal Corporation has made Fire NOC mandatory for all new buildings in Bhopal, with renewal required every two years. In the past two years, 10 high-rise buildings have been approved, five of them exceeding 52 metres. However, the Fire Brigade’s hydraulic platform can only reach up to 52 metres, raising serious safety concerns. With several buildings rising beyond reachable height, firefighting in emergencies will largely depend on internal safety systems installed within the buildings. Owners responsible for fire safety systems Under the new rules, building owners must ensure that systems such as sprinklers, smoke detectors, fire alarms and emergency exits remain fully functional. Fire NOC is not required for simplex or duplex homes under 15 metres in height and with built-up areas below 500 square metres. Old city areas remain high-risk Several densely populated areas, including Lakherapura, Itwara, Jumerati, Chowk Bazaar, Peer Gate and Loha Bazaar continue to be highly vulnerable to fire incidents. Mandatory safety norms for high-rises Bhopal currently operates with 14 fire stations, a limited fleet of fire tenders, tankers and rescue vehicles. This has raised concerns over the city’s preparedness to handle fire emergencies in high-rise buildings. Fire Act draft pending since 2020 The Madhya Pradesh Fire Act draft has been pending since 2020. The delay is mainly due to the high cost—estimated at ₹400–500 crore—and manpower requirements for setting up a dedicated fire services cadre. Officials say the draft will soon be sent to the Finance and Law departments. Municipal officials have clarified that building owners are fully responsible for maintaining fire safety systems. Failure to comply can lead to cancellation of the Fire NOC after inspection.