Only three of the 60 Garba organisers who have applied for permission in Ahmedabad have received a fire No Objection Certificate ahead of Navratri, with the remaining applications still undergoing safety checks, according to a report by Sandesh. Navratri celebrations in the city are scheduled to begin on October 11.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Fire and Emergency Services Department is inspecting venues including domes and party plots before issuing approvals. Officials are checking whether organisers have complied fully with the prescribed fire-safety conditions. The department is expected to complete more approvals by Saturday and Sunday, the report said.
The current approval figures are significantly lower than last year’s position at a comparable stage. Around 50 applications were received for Garba events in Ahmedabad last year, and approximately 25 to 30 large or commercial organisers eventually secured permission after meeting safety, police and fire-safety requirements.
This year, the department is carrying out what it described as reality checks of the ground arrangements at venues. Teams led by additional and deputy chief fire officers are inspecting the sites where organisers have applied for permission. The inspections are intended to verify whether the planned infrastructure matches the safety requirements submitted by event organisers.
The number of covered air-conditioned domes is higher this year, according to the report. These enclosed venues have specific risks during an emergency, including fire, short circuit incidents and crowd movement problems. To reduce those risks, the fire department has prescribed 30 requirements for such events.
The requirements include a centralised fire-safety system, emergency exit gates and roads wide enough to allow fire tenders to reach the venue. The department has said that organisers who do not comply with all the stipulated rules will not receive an NOC.
Fire approval will not be the only clearance required for the events. Organisers must also comply with guidelines issued by the Ahmedabad city police for Navratri. If an organiser fails to follow the police guidelines after receiving fire permission, the Garba approval may be cancelled, the report said.
The two-stage approval process places responsibility on both the fire department and the police to assess event readiness before large gatherings begin. It also means that a fire NOC alone will not represent final permission to conduct a Garba event if other police requirements remain unmet.
The pending applications are therefore being assessed not only on paperwork but also on the physical readiness of each venue. The fire department’s inspections are continuing, while organisers await decisions based on compliance with the prescribed safety standards. Further approvals are expected before Navratri celebrations begin on October 11.
