{
  "id": 9899065,
  "title": "Can’t trace building plans of 70% of 2,453 PGs, MCD tells HC",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/09/26/cant-trace-building-plans-of-70-of-2-453-pgs-mcd-tells-hc",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-09-26T03:12:59.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "The Indian Express",
    "slug": "the-indian-express",
    "url": "https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/cant-trace-building-plans-of-70-of-2453-pgs-mcd-tells-hc-10894609/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has been unable to locate building plans for about 70% of the 2,453 PG accommodations in the capital city, according to a recent disclosure in the Delhi High Court. This revelation came during a hearing for public interest litigations that arose following the collapse of the Satya Niketan building, which resulted in the deaths of seven people, including five students. The MCD had conducted a survey of PG buildings in response to court orders, identifying a total of 2,453 buildings with 32,247 rooms and approximately 50,529 occupants.\n\nHowever, the MCD informed the court that it has only managed to trace or verify building plans for just 730 of these properties. When questioned about the status of the remaining two-thirds of the identified PG buildings, the MCD's legal representatives stated that they are currently tracing these properties, but some are proving difficult to locate. The owners of these properties have reportedly changed several times over the years, adding to the complexity of tracing the building plans.\n\nOf the 2,453 buildings identified, only four have been declared dangerous, while the MCD has demolished 543 properties and sealed 178 others for unauthorized construction in the past 17 days. The survey conducted by the MCD also found that more than 21,099 cases of commercial activities in residential areas have been reported, and around 30-40 properties have been sealed due to such violations.\n\nIn light of the Satya Niketan building collapse, the Delhi HC ordered the MCD to stay notices requiring PG accommodations in these dangerous buildings until the structures are deemed safe. The court is scheduled to hear the matter again on October 14. The MCD has also taken steps to address safety concerns in the identified PG accommodations, including declaring three buildings dangerous and vacating them, directing owners to strengthen, renovate, and repair fourteen other properties, and recommending major repairs for ten other vulnerable buildings.",
  "summary": null,
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}