Public entry to the newly-constructed Bhopal Municipal Corporation (BMC) headquarters on Link Road No. 2 was restricted for several hours on Friday following the tragic death of a 60-year-old man. The incident has cast a spotlight on critical engineering flaws and construction negligence within the Rs 40 crore building, even before its formal inauguration. According to TT Nagar police, the deceased, Shyam Sundar Saxena, a resident of Kokta Multi-Floor under the Housing for All (HFA) scheme, had visited the office for administrative work. He reportedly fell through a 1.5 to 2-foot gap in the boundary wall of the front porch on the first floor. Saxena succumbed to his injuries late Thursday night during treatment. A site visit revealed multiple hazardous conditions within the eight-storey structure. An open area adjacent to the emergency staircase remains completely uncovered, lacking both protective walls and safety nets.

 

Furthermore, issues with basic infrastructure were observed, including water dripping down the staircase from the eighth floor due to an overflowing rooftop tank. Despite the building being an active construction site with ongoing electrical and furniture work, several key departments, including Central Workshop, HFA, Civil, and Public Relations, have already been shifted to the premises. The incident triggered a massive protest by Congress workers led by Abhinav Baroliya. Protesters staged a demonstration at the headquarters, accusing the administration of prioritising shifting over safety. They alleged that poor engineering and technical lapses are responsible for the life-threatening conditions and demanded a high-level investigation into the construction quality. Responding to the tragedy, BMC Executive Engineer Pramod Malviya inspected the premises. While questioning how the victim reached the porch area when the HFA office is located on the seventh floor. “We are identifying all open and dangerous areas within the headquarters. Directions have been issued to lock all balcony gates and rectify structural flaws within a week,” Malviya stated.