Lucknow: In the aftermath of a massive fire that broke out at an under-construction hotel in Gomtinagar, the Lucknow fire department revealed that nearly 90 hotels in the city are operating without the mandatory fire safety no-objection certificate (NOC). Officials said enforcement action is set to begin soon, with compliance checks scheduled to start from Monday.Fire department officials told TOI that notices were already served to hotels found violating fire safety norms. These establishments were asked to immediately comply with prescribed safety standards and obtain the necessary NOC from the fire department.Chief fire officer (CFO) Lucknow, Ankush Mittal said that several hotels approached the department seeking additional time to meet the required norms, citing the need for long-term corrective measures such as structural changes, installation of fire detection and suppression systems, and evacuation infrastructure. “Some hotels already took corrective steps and upgraded their fire safety equipment following the notices,” the CFO said.However, officials made it clear that leniency would not be extended indefinitely. The fire department will begin physical inspections from Monday to verify whether the hotels complied with the issued notices. “If deficiencies persist or establishments fail to show tangible progress, we will formally write to the district administration recommending strict action,” the CFO told TOI.The disclosure raised serious concerns over public safety, especially in the wake of the Gomtinagar incident, where a fire in the basement of a 16-storey under-construction hotel triggered panic and a prolonged rescue operation. Fire officials said the incident served as a wake-up call, prompting a renewed audit of fire safety compliance across commercial hospitality establishments.Officials emphasised that operating hotels without a fire safety NOC is a clear violation of norms and poses a significant risk to guests and staff alike. The department reiterated that fire safety compliance is non-negotiable and warned that hotels failing to meet standards could face sealing, fines, or closure through administrative action.The fire department urged hotel owners to treat the issue with urgency and ensure full compliance to avoid stringent punitive measures in the coming days.
