CHANDIGARH, – In a move sparking widespread concern, illegal construction has reportedly commenced at the site of a recently collapsed three-bay building in Sector 17, Chandigarh, prompting the Deputy Commissioner (DC) to launch an immediate probe. This development comes just days after the site was cleared of debris from the structure, which fell on January 6 due to what officials describe as gross negligence and violations of safety measures.
Multiple iron columns have been observed erected at the spot, despite the UT Estate Office confirming that no revised building plan for the site has been submitted or approved. The area is now covered by large tin sheds, obscuring the new construction from ground level, though the columns are reportedly visible from upper floors of nearby buildings.
Nishant Kumar Yadav, the DC-cum-Estate Officer of the Chandigarh administration, firmly stated, “No revised building plan for the collapsed building in Sector 17 has been approved till date. In fact, no building plan has been submitted for approval at the estate office. In the absence of the revised building plan, no construction is allowed at the collapsed building site.”
The building (SCO 183-185), a prominent commercial hub, had been evacuated and sealed off since December 27, 2024, after being declared unsafe for occupancy, merely ten days before its collapse in the early hours of January 6, 2025.
A detailed fact-finding inquiry report by the UT administration, completed by April 27, found both the lessee and owner of the building directly responsible for its collapse. The SDM of the Chandigarh administration’s central division, in a comprehensive inquiry, determined that despite knowing a structural stability certificate had not been procured, they proceeded with renovations and alterations, recklessly ignoring potential risks. The report further highlighted that no safety measures were taken during the repair work, no revised building plans had been passed by the estate office, and a prior objection was ignored by the lessee and owner who initiated the renovation work regardless.
Following the collapse, the UT administration had forwarded its detailed fact-finding report to Chandigarh Police. Subsequently, on January 28, 2025, UT Police filed a case against nine individuals for allegedly making structural modifications that caused the incident. Debris removal at the site, supervised by the National Institute of Technical Teachers’ Training and Research (NITTTR), began on April 20, 2025.
Meanwhile, the Chandigarh administration has established a Plan Approval Committee (PAC), composed of senior technical and administrative officers, to conduct thorough evaluations for significant and critical building approval cases. Adding to the city’s structural concerns, the building adjacent to the collapsed area appears severely compromised, with visible deterioration on its exterior, prompting calls for a comprehensive assessment to determine if installing iron columns would be a feasible solution for its stability.
