BHUBANESWAR: In a significant policy reform by the state govt, fire safety certificates can now be obtained without prior building plan approval for structures constructed before 2017.
“Buildings established before 2017 without approved plans are now eligible for fire safety certificates upon implementing reasonable fire prevention measures. The govt has separated the requirements for building plan approvals from fire safety certification. The provision exclusively applies to buildings constructed before 2017, which marks the year when Odisha Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Rules, 2017 came into effect,” director general (fire and emergency services), Sudhanshu Sarangi, told TOI.
The 2017 law had made it mandatory for all buildings constructed after the enactment of the Orissa Development Authorities Act, 1982, to obtain a fire certificate only after compliance with the building plan approval.
Last week, the home department issued a notification changing the previous rules. The new Odisha Fire Prevention and Fire Safety (Amendment) Rules, 2025 states, “In case of existing buildings constructed or occupied after 1982 and prior to the commencement of the Odisha Fire Prevention and Fire Safety Rules, 2017, on receipt of an application from the owner of the building, without sacrificing reasonable safety, the director may grant exemption from the condition of plan approval of the building.”
Earlier, thousands of structures, including old hospitals and clinics, cinema halls, educational institutes and hotels, were unable to apply for fire certificates as they lacked approved building plans.
“Delinking of building plan approval from fire safety certificate will help hundreds of old clinics, educational institutes and hotels to comply with the fire safety regulations. Now, they are unable to apply. Once they apply, the building will be inspected by fire officers and advised on how to ensure fire safety,” Sarangi said, adding, “As such, a building can get a fire safety certificate even if it has no building plan approval. Our only objective is to make old buildings fireproof. We are simplifying rules to enhance compliance and ease of doing business.”
Several hotels and hospitals welcomed the policy change. “My clinic is located in a narrow street in Cuttack since 1990. Cuttack Development Authority (CDA) has been finding flaws with my building plan due to which I cannot get it approved. Due to the unavailability of a building plan, I could not get a fire safety certificate. The delinking system was the need of the hour for the safety of patients,” said the owner of a clinic.
