Delhi’s old high-rises face mandatory structural safety audits under new DDA order

For people living, working or studying in an older multi-storey building in Delhi, the safety of the structure may soon come under closer scrutiny.The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has directed owners of certain older high-rise and high-footfall buildings to conduct mandatory structural safety audits within three months, citing concerns over building collapses and the city's seismic vulnerability.The directive covers buildings constructed under sanctions issued before March 21, 2001, with the scope extending beyond conventional high-rises to include several buildings where large numbers of people gather.Which buildings will need a structural audit?According to a public notice issued by the DDA on Thursday, structural safety audits will be mandatory for all high-rise buildings measuring 15 metres or more that were sanctioned before March 21, 2001.The audit will have to be completed within three months.The requirement will also apply to buildings that are below 15 metres but have high footfall, provided they were…