How would you assess Delhi’s overall fire-safety preparedness? What are the biggest risks? Delhi has varied fire risks because of its geography and construction. Old Delhi, for instance, has narrow, congested lanes, interconnected buildings and tangled overhead wires, making access difficult.  Delhi’s building by-laws were introduced in 1957 and revised in 1983 and 2016, but much of the city has not developed in accordance with them. The city has more than 1,000 unauthorised colonies and around 80% of it is unplanned.  Fire prevention and preparedness have not kept pace with this development. The by-laws and Fire Services infrastructure have not expanded sufficiently, leaving a wide gap in prevention, applicability and enforcement. Our preparedness is therefore only average and not up to the mark for the Capital.  Despite regulations and inspections, violations continue. Where is the biggest gap? Around 80% of construction in Delhi is unplanned. Such building plans often never reach the Municipal Corporation of Delhi or the building authority and, consequently, do not come to the Fire Department for a Fire Safety Certificate (FSC) or Fire No Objection Certificate.  Only about 5% of buildings in Delhi have Occupancy Certificates. …