Only three major garba organisers in Ahmedabad have received fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs) so far, out of around 55 to 60 applications submitted ahead of Navratri, as the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Fire and Emergency Services Department carries out inspections of the remaining venues.
Navratri festivities are scheduled to begin on October 11, and the fire department has said that final approval will be issued only after organisers meet all prescribed safety requirements. Special teams, including senior fire officials, are inspecting large garba grounds and air-conditioned domes where construction and installation work is still underway.
According to the report, the department is checking 30 safety requirements at each venue. These include the availability of fire extinguishers, adequate emergency exit points and sufficient road width for fire tenders to enter the site. The inspections are being conducted after the event infrastructure and equipment are installed, allowing officials to assess the arrangements on the ground rather than relying only on submitted applications.
The fire department is expected to complete the final disposal of the applications by Saturday and Sunday. Organisers will receive an NOC only if the inspection confirms 100 per cent compliance with the applicable safety rules. Applications that do not meet the requirements will not be approved, according to the report.
The inspection process is particularly focused on the growing number of garba events being organised inside enclosed air-conditioned domes this year. Fire officials have identified the possibility of fire or short-circuit incidents in such covered venues as a key safety concern. The department has said these locations require centralised fire-safety systems and enough exit gates to prevent crowd congestion or a stampede during an emergency.
The timing of the inspections leaves organisers with only a few days to complete venue construction, bring equipment to the sites and address any deficiencies identified by the fire teams. The report said that work at several large garba grounds and air-conditioned domes was expected to be completed within the following two to three days.
The process places the municipal fire department in the position of both reviewing applications and verifying whether temporary event infrastructure is safe for public use before thousands of people gather at the venues. For attendees, the immediate implication is that an application for an NOC does not amount to final permission. The event can proceed only after the venue passes the inspection and receives the required clearance.
The final decisions over the pending applications are expected by the weekend, after the additional chief fire officer, deputy chief fire officer and other inspection teams complete their checks of the venues.
