Ahmedabad’s Older Buildings Face a Safety Gap as Structural Checks Remain Unenforced
Ahmedabad, Gujarat | September 12, 2026: Thousands of older properties in Ahmedabad could be facing a major safety oversight as the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) and Ahmedabad Urban Development Authority (Auda) have yet to effectively enforce mandatory structural stability certification for buildings that are more than 15 years old.
The rule was introduced under Gujarat's 2014 General Development Control Regulations (GDCR) to identify ageing and potentially unsafe structures before they become a serious risk for occupants and surrounding properties.
15-Year Safety Rule Exists but Enforcement Is Missing
Under the regulations, buildings are divided into different categories based on their construction and use. Class 1 properties include framed structures, factories, schools, colleges, hostels and other public buildings, while Class 2 covers certain residential masonry structures above 10 metres.
Class 1 buildings were required to undergo structural inspection and submit a stability certificate within three years after completing 15 years. Class 2 buildings were given a five-year compliance window after the regulations came into force.
However, the enforcement mechanism expected to monitor these certificates has not been fully established.
What This Means for Property Owners
For homeowners, landlords and housing societies, the absence of regular structural checks creates a significant property-safety concern. A building may continue to be occupied for years without a formal assessment identifying problems in its structure.
For buyers considering older flats, houses or commercial properties in Ahmedabad, building age and structural condition should therefore become an important part of due diligence, alongside title documents, approvals and property tax records.
Old Properties Could Face Greater Risk
The original objective of the rule was to identify ageing or deteriorating buildings early and allow authorities to take corrective action, including repairs or demolition where a structure is found unsafe.
Without systematic inspections, however, potentially vulnerable buildings may remain outside regular safety monitoring. This can also affect neighbouring properties, particularly in densely developed areas where structural failures could have wider consequences.
Why AMC and Auda Have Not Implemented It
Officials have pointed to inadequate staffing as a major reason for the lack of enforcement. Auda was expected to establish a mechanism for receiving and monitoring structural stability certificates, but the system has reportedly not materialised.
Authorities have also not consistently issued notices to buildings that fail to comply with the requirement.
A Key Issue for Ahmedabad’s Older Property Stock
The issue becomes more important as Ahmedabad continues to expand while its older residential, commercial and institutional buildings age further. A functioning certification system could give property owners clearer information about structural risks and help authorities identify buildings requiring urgent intervention.
For the city's property market, effective enforcement could ultimately improve buyer confidence, building safety and long-term asset value, provided inspections are implemented transparently and property owners receive clear timelines for repairs or compliance.