Bhubaneswar, Sept. 4 (UDN): The Odisha Fire and Emergency Services Department will launch a month-long statewide inspection drive from September 15 to October 15, intensifying enforcement of fire safety norms after issuing more than 800 notices for violations this year.
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The special campaign, themed “Surakhsit Odisha, Vikashit Odisha,” aims to strengthen compliance with fire safety regulations, particularly at high-risk establishments, following a series of recent fire incidents at premises that reportedly lacked mandatory Fire Safety Certificates.
Officials said the drive will focus on identifying non-compliant buildings, verifying fire protection systems and ensuring that owners and occupiers implement prescribed safety measures to prevent avoidable loss of life and property.
According to the department, regular inspections carried out across the state during 2026 have already resulted in over 800 notices being served for breaches of fire safety rules. The upcoming campaign is expected to further tighten enforcement through extensive field inspections.
High-risk buildings under scanner
The inspection drive will target establishments covered under Rule 9(1) of the Odisha Fire Prevention and Fire Safety (Amendment) Rules, 2019, which mandates Fire Safety Certificates for specified categories of buildings.
These include airports, auditoriums, convention halls, office buildings, cinema halls, multiplexes, hospitals, nursing homes, educational institutions, factories, hotels, guest houses, high-rise residential buildings, warehouses, underground structures, shopping malls and other notified high-risk occupancies.
Business and office buildings measuring 12 metres or more in height or having a built-up area of 500 square metres or more are required to obtain certification.
Educational institutions must comply if they are 12 metres or taller, have a built-up area of at least 1,000 square metres, or consist of three or more storeys.
Hospitals and nursing homes also fall under the rules based on factors such as height, number of floors, bed capacity, and the presence of intensive care or critical care units.
Similarly, hotels, lodges and guest houses are required to obtain Fire Safety Certificates if they are 12 metres or more in height, have four or more floors, 25 or more guest rooms, or hold a three-star rating or above.
Residential apartment complexes measuring 15 metres or more in height, warehouses with a built-up area of 500 square metres or above, and eligible shopping malls and commercial complexes will also remain under close scrutiny during the campaign.
The department has urged owners, occupiers and managements of all notified establishments to secure the required Fire Safety Certificates and ensure that fire prevention systems remain fully operational. Officials said the statewide drive reflects the government’s emphasis on making public safety an integral part of Odisha’s development journey.
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