Despite repeated warnings from the fire department, the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation (CITCO) has flagrantly disregarded fire safety regulations at its key establishments—Hotel Mountview in Sector 10, Hotel Shivalikview in Sector 17, Hotel Parkview in Sector 24, and Chef Lakeview at Sukhna Lake.
Operating without valid fire safety certificates, these hotels are not only in violation of the law but also endanger the safety of both guests and employees, raising serious concerns about CITCO’s negligence.
CITCO, incorporated under the Companies Act of 1956 in 1974, manages a range of hotels and petrol stations across Chandigarh. According to the National Building Code (NBC) of 2016, a fire no-objection certificate (NOC), verifying the presence of fire safety equipment on commercial properties, must be renewed every three years. However, for the past eight years, CITCO has failed to secure these essential certifications, putting hundreds of lives at risk.
Even more alarming is CITCO’s ability to bypass excise department rules, which require a fire NOC for a bar license. Instead, CITCO has submitted undertakings claiming that they have applied for the NOC, while fire safety measures remain woefully inadequate.
Jitender Singh, CITCO’s executive engineer, stated, “We have complied with most of the fire department’s directions, and further improvements are ongoing. We are confident that all requirements will be met by December this year. The matter has already been raised in the board meeting.”
Lal Bahadur Gautam, the fire officer for Sector 17, added, “We recently issued a letter to CITCO, instructing them to meet safety standards by December. If they fail to comply, action will be taken. Shockingly, none of these hotels are equipped with fire-preventing sprinklers.”
CITCO’s acting managing director, Hari Kallikkat, was unavailable for comment despite repeated attempts to reach him.
A Callous Approach to Fire Safety in Chandigarh
Chandigarh is home to approximately 20,000 commercial and government buildings, yet only a small fraction comply with fire safety regulations.
In August, the municipal corporation issued fire safety advisories to 6,000 buildings following a comprehensive safety audit. The audit revealed widespread non-compliance, with most buildings lacking essential fire safety measures such as emergency exits, ISI-marked fire extinguishers, hose reels, automatic alarm systems, and fire smoke check doors. In addition, many buildings were found to have hazardous loose electrical wiring.
The situation is particularly concerning at PGIMER, where a series of recent fires prompted former UT Administrator Banwarilal Purohit in April to instruct the hospital to comply with the National Building Code to obtain fire safety certificates, safeguarding patients and staff. However, of the 17 buildings on PGIMER’s campus, only one currently holds a valid fire certificate.
Hotel Renovations Stalled for Three Years
In 2021, CITCO planned to renovate its three flagship hotels, aiming to modernize their design and facilities to reduce losses. However, three years later, the renovation remains at a standstill. A senior CITCO official expressed frustration, stating, “The concerned authorities have taken no action despite multiple presentations on the need for renovation. The delay is making it increasingly difficult to compete with private hotels.”
Chinese Restaurant Set to Be Leased Out After Sustained Losses
After a three-year closure, Hotel Mountview’s Chinese restaurant “Magic Wok” in Sector 10 reopened on June 19, 2023, following its shutdown during the Covid-19 pandemic. However, the reopening failed to reverse the financial losses, prompting CITCO to consider leasing the restaurant.
During a recent Board of Directors meeting, it was revealed that “Magic Wok” had been incurring heavy losses, leading the managing director to direct officials to draft terms and conditions for leasing it out. A senior officer attributed the losses to a shortage of staff and the lack of professional chefs.
CITCO Headless for Over Two Years
Since March 2022, CITCO has been functioning under temporary arrangements after its managing director, Punjab-cadre IAS officer Jaswinder Kaur Sidhu, returned to her parent cadre. The post, traditionally held by a Punjab cadre IAS officer, has since been filled on an interim basis. Initially, UT cadre IAS officer Purva Garg handled the additional charge, and as of March this year, it has been passed to another UT cadre IAS officer, Hari Kallikkat. This prolonged leadership instability has exacerbated the corporation’s ongoing operational challenges.
