New Delhi: A session focused on safe and secure cities, disaster response, and resilience was held at Bharat Mandapam, focusing on the challenges faced by urban authorities and civic bodies. Discussions centred on solutions such as heat action plans, urban greening, adoption of Geo-AI toolkits, biodiversity assessments and on expanding green cover. The event was held from Feb 25-27.Speakers from the Bureau of Indian Standards highlighted proposed revisions under the National Building Code (NBC), 2026. The reforms include changes in building materials, structural design and soil and foundation standards to reduce damage during disasters. While the updated norms provide a stronger safety framework, authorities can modify them to align with local building bylaws.Abhishek Pal, joint director at BIS, said: “New provisions relating to dealing with the ‘dead load’ of gardening were introduced, and testing of building fabrics such as walls, roofs and floors against wind-borne debris was included. The criteria for earthquake-resistant design of structures were revised substantially.”Under the BIS’s revised earthquake zoning, Zone VI was introduced as the highest-risk category, covering the Himalayan belt from Jammu and Kashmir, UP, Himachal Pradesh to Arunachal Pradesh. V. Suresh, chairman of the NBC Committee, said building approvals should be given after compliance with norms.
