Ahmedabad’s fire department has issued fire no-objection certificates to only three major garba organisers out of an estimated 55 to 60 applications received before Navratri, with final approvals dependent on detailed safety inspections at each venue.
The Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation’s Fire and Emergency Services Department is conducting intensified checks ahead of Navratri, which is scheduled to begin on Sunday, October 11. Officials are inspecting large garba grounds and air-conditioned domes before allowing them to host participants.
According to the fire department, the three organisers that have received preliminary approval currently meet the required safety standards. The remaining applications are being reviewed by teams led by senior officials, including the additional chief fire officer and deputy chief fire officer.
The inspections cover 30 safety requirements. These include the availability and placement of fire extinguishers, an adequate number of emergency exit points and road access wide enough for fire tenders to reach the venue. The department will also assess whether the arrangements on site match the details submitted by organisers.
The checks are taking place as construction and installation work continues at several large garba venues. Organisers are still bringing equipment and completing the setup, with much of the work expected to be finished over the next two to three days. The fire department has indicated that approvals will be based on a physical inspection after the installations are complete, rather than solely on applications or preliminary plans.
Officials are paying particular attention to enclosed air-conditioned domes, where short circuits or fires could create serious evacuation challenges if exit routes and firefighting systems are inadequate. The department has said that such venues must have centralised fire-safety systems and sufficient exit gates to reduce the risk of panic and crowd congestion during an emergency.
The final disposal of the pending applications is expected by Saturday and Sunday. The department has stated that an event will receive its final fire NOC only after full compliance with all the prescribed requirements is found during the ground inspection. Venues that do not meet the standards will not be granted approval.
