Noida to be 1st city in UP to implement structural audit policy

Noida: Noida Authority, in Uttar Pradesh, has become the first city in the state to implement the structural audit policy, which will be effective from 1st April 2023. As per the policy, it is mandatory for builders to seek occupancy certificates (OC) for all new and old delayed projects in the city.

After 1st April, builders will be required to obtain a partial or complete structural certificate (CS) and occupancy certificate (OC) from one of the seven listed institutes approved by the Noida Authority. The application process will be carried out online.

Existing buildings can also seek an audit if at least 25% of residents demand it. The senior officers of the authority will then look into the matter.

One of the key features of the policy is that the builders or the AOA will be responsible for paying the fee for obtaining the OC or SC. Builders are also responsible for correcting any defects found during the structural audit for the next five years.

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The Noida Authority has listed seven reputed institutes for this work, including BITS Pilani, Aligarh Muslim University, IIT Kanpur, Delhi Technical University, Malaviya National Institute of Technology in Jaipur, Central Building Research Institute Roorkee, and Motilal Nehru National Institute of Technology in Allahabad.

Akansha Singh, President of Golf City, said, "It is a good policy adopted by the Noida Authority. It will help in identifying and rectifying any structural damage before it's too late."

However, Nivir Kaushik, Secretary of Sethi Max Royal in Sector 76 Noida, said, "It is a great move by the authority, but it has some impact on older societies. Residents of these societies will have to bear the cost, while societies constructed less than five years ago will have their SC fees paid by the builders."