Article 1: Falling walls
Why in news: The Bhiwandi Kohinoor building collapse in Maharashtra killed 10 people despite repeated unsafe declarations, exposing failures in enforcement, urban infrastructure maintenance, housing policy, and disaster preparedness.
Key Details
- Unsafe despite warnings: Kohinoor building was placed on the danger list in 2020, yet owners delayed redevelopment and carried out unauthorised repairs.
- Enforcement failure: Authorities evacuated residents only hours before the collapse, highlighting weak implementation of safety orders.
- Housing crisis: Lack of transit accommodation forced low-income migrant residents to remain in unsafe buildings.
- Recurring infrastructure failures: Recent collapses of bridges, airport roofs, roads, and buildings indicate systemic neglect of ageing infrastructure.
- Need for urban renewal: Experts stress rehabilitation, preventive maintenance, and stronger municipal governance instead of only post-disaster compensation.
Failure of Enforcement and Accountability
- Kohinoor building was declared unsafe and placed on the 'danger' list in 2020, yet remained occupied.
- Owners refused evacuation or redevelopment and instead carried out unauthorised repairs.
- The building collapsed during repair work, killing 10 people, despite prior warnings.
- Unlike the Jilani building collapse (2020), which reflected a failure of anticipation, the Kohinoor tragedy exposed a failure to enforce safety orders.
- The government's response remained reactive, focusing on suspensions, criminal cases, and compensation rather than preventing disasters.
Socio-economic Constraints Behind Unsafe Occupancy
- Bhiwandi's large low-income migrant population depends on affordable housing in congested neighbourhoods.
- Lack of transit camps or temporary shelters forces residents to remain in dangerous buildings.
- Building owners continue collecting rent, despite known structural risks.
- Evacuation and demolition are difficult due to inadequate police support and political sensitivities.
- As a result, unsafe housing becomes preferable to homelessness for many vulnerable families.
Poor Infrastructure Maintenance and Governance
- India largely treats infrastructure as a one-time capital investment, neglecting long-term maintenance.
- The construction boom since the 2000s has outpaced maintenance efforts and regulatory oversight.
- Administrative fragmentation has further weakened monitoring and enforcement.
- Many infrastructure failures involve known structural hazards that remain unaddressed.
- Monsoon conditions expose these neglected weaknesses, increasing the likelihood of collapses.
Growing Pattern of Infrastructure Failures
- Recent years have witnessed roof and canopy collapses at airports in Delhi, Jabalpur, and Rajkot.
- Bridge collapses in Bihar (2024–26) highlight systemic deficiencies in infrastructure management.
- Road cave-ins, basement flooding, and urban disasters, including the Rajinder Nagar tragedy, reveal poor urban resilience.
- Similar structural failures have also been reported in Kolkata and Pune.
- Despite the availability of structural health monitoring and early-warning technologies, municipal capacity remains inadequate.
Way Forward: From Reactive Response to Urban Renewal
- Shift from post-disaster action to preventive infrastructure governance.
- Undertake large-scale rehabilitation and retrofitting of ageing buildings and public infrastructure.
- Strengthen municipal capacity, regular structural audits, and strict enforcement of safety norms.
- Develop adequate transit housing to enable safe evacuation of vulnerable residents.
- Launch a comprehensive urban renewal programme focused on maintenance, resilience, and public safety rather than relying solely on inquiries and compensation.
Conclusion
The Bhiwandi tragedy reflects a broader crisis of poor enforcement, ageing infrastructure, and inadequate urban planning. Sustainable urbanisation requires shifting from reactive responses to preventive maintenance, strict safety enforcement, rehabilitation of old structures, and provision of alternative housing. Comprehensive urban renewal, backed by stronger municipal capacity, is essential to safeguard lives and build resilient cities.
Descriptive question:
Why are recurring urban infrastructure collapses in India primarily a governance and maintenance challenge rather than merely an engineering failure? (10 marks, 150 words)