Khan Market Security delhi news
– Checking of fire safety equipment in Khan Market. (Continue with the happy story) Photo: Anushka Kogta– Checking of fire safety equipment in Khan Market. (Continue with the happy story) Photo: Anushka Kogta– Checking of fire safety equipment in Khan Market. (Continue with the happy story) Photo: Anushka Kogta– Checking of fire safety equipment in Khan Market. (Continue with the happy story) Photo: Anushka Kogta– Checking of fire safety equipment in Khan Market. (Continue with the happy story) Photo: Anushka Kogta– Checking of fire safety equipment in Khan Market. (Continue with the happy story) Photo: Anushka Kogta-Entrance under construction in Khan Market. (Continue with the happy story) Photo: Anushka Kogta– Checking of fire safety equipment in Khan Market. (Continue with the happy story) Photo: Anushka Kogta– Checking of fire safety equipment in Khan Market. (Continue with the happy story) Photo: Anushka Kogta– Parking space in Khan Market. (Continue with the happy story) Photo: Anushka Kogta
-Entrance under construction in Khan Market. (Continue with the happy story) Photo: Anushka Kogta
New Delhi: High-end eating establishments in Khan Market, which have been suffering from inadequate security exits for a long time, can finally heave a sigh of relief. Delhi High Court On Friday they were allowed to operate without fire clearance certificate if their occupancy capacity does not exceed 50 guests.However, the decision has raised new concerns among visitors over enforcement and compliance with building regulations. The ambiguity has deepened as the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) says the NOC falls under the purview of the fire department, while department officials claim that establishments with less than 50 people are not their responsibility.A visit to the market on Saturday revealed that most eateries, including those that have approached the court, have kept the seating capacity below the prescribed limit. Three restaurants – Sly Granny (49 seats across two floors), Perch (48 seats) and Khan Chacha (35 seats) – reported operating within the limits. Their managers claimed that fire safety equipment such as fire extinguishers, hoses, alarms and fire blankets were in place and entries were being regulated. However, at another outlet, employees said they were unaware of the court order.Despite claims of compliance, times of India Inadequate ventilation was observed at many outlets, especially on rooftops where there was a lack of separate exits and narrow staircases were being used for both entry and exit. While the building code prescribes a minimum stair width of 1.5 meters for such establishments, the restaurant owners argued that this norm applies exclusively to “assembly buildings” that allow 50 or more guests. He also claimed that where natural ventilation was inadequate, mechanical ventilation systems were installed.“The court has anyway considered the building regulations before giving the judgement. If anyone has any issues, they can definitely report the matter. The safety of the guests is also our concern,” said Anshu Tandon, president of Khan Market Welfare Association, which claimed to have assisted the restaurant owners in filing the petition.Visitors flagged additional issues such as open AC units, congested routes and tightly packed outlets. “The path to the second-floor café went through the kitchen of another outlet and was very narrow, making it crowded even with four to five people,” said Ramesh Sharma, a 27-year-old accountant.Another visitor, 25-year-old content marketing executive Pooja Mahabadi, said close clustering of outlets increased the risk. “Cafes are packed together in a small space. If something goes wrong at one outlet, the fire can rapidly spread to nearby establishments. NDMC should investigate these issues.”In February 2025, two restaurants caught fire. Although no casualties were reported, there were a lot of flammable materials on the rooftops and everything was reduced to ashes. Eyewitnesses had claimed that the fire was caused by a short circuit. In March 2023, a chimney and false ceiling fire broke out on the first and second floors of the OTB restaurant. There is no information about any casualty.Authorities had made several efforts in the past to resolve the entry-exit issue, including surveys and consultations, but no consensus solution emerged. Ground floor shopkeepers opposed widening the internal stairs passing between their shops, citing loss of retail space.Sanjeev Mehra of Khan Market Traders Association said, “The external spiral staircase would have affected the aesthetics of the market, created encroachment issues and restricted access to the shop. However, we also wanted a solution to the problem, and that is why we agreed on the proposed stairs, lift cabin or ramp outside the perimeter of the market, which would have served the purpose.”The proposal to build a cantilever access and walkway on the second floor with access from footpath lift cabin or stair cabin requires approval from flat owners. According to Tandon, the NDMC had proposed to acquire the upper floor space to create a common walkway, but the plan was not feasible as many units were still being used for residential purposes.Tandon said restaurant owners approached the court in 2020-21 when the NDMC stopped renewing their licenses and rejected the applications. “They issued a letter stating that owners of restaurants having an area of more than 90 square meters must have made additional seating arrangements and thus will be eligible to apply for fire NOC. Since NDMC license was mandatory for obtaining other approvals, we were unable to obtain excise license also.“Established in 1951, the U-shaped market is famous for high-end branded showrooms, renowned bookshops, artisan shops and premium restaurants, making it a favorite for expatriates and locals alike. Traders said the conversion of upper floor residential flats into commercial establishments began around 2004. The market currently has 156 ground floor shops and about 74 upper floor units, of which only five-six are used for residential purposes.