NDMC declares Palika Dham complex unsafe

The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on Tuesday declared the Palika Dham Complex (Type-I quarters) at Gole Market in central Delhi structurally unsafe and asked residents to vacate it.  In a public notice issued by the council’s Housing Department, the authority said the complex was in a dilapidated condition and unsafe for habitation.

The advisory said the step was taken to prevent any untoward incident, accident or loss of life.  Officials said that in September 2025, the council had given a notice to the residents to vacate the housing premises. “There are at least 149 residential quarters, most of which have been vacated. Around 40 families are still living there … most of them have been allotted housing via a lottery system,” an NDMC official said.

The NDMC has urged all allottees and occupants to cooperate with the administration and immediately begin vacating the premises. “Residents have been asked to complete the process by March 7, 2026, to avoid risks to human life,” it said. Earlier in July last year, the NDMC declared the buildings unsafe and asked residents to vacate their homes. In a notice issued on July 11, residents were directed to register their names and details on the NDMC’s e-Awas Portal between July 14 and 16 to apply for alternative housing.

Verification of these applications was to be completed by July 17.

The announcement has left residents divided - all of whom are Government employees, both retired and currently serving. Pointing to a broken window in her flat from the road, an employee with the NDMC’s health department had said, “They are asking us to vacate for a valid reason. What if an accident takes place? Who will be responsible?”

She had said that a month ago, her sister-in-law suffered injuries to her back after plaster from the ceiling at her home fell on her. “Moving and shifting the children to other schools will be a hassle, but it is better than living with a daily risk.” She had added that the water tankers located above the homes have caused seepage and weakened the ceilings.

Since the 1970s, the complex has been home to more than a hundred Government employees, said residents. It also includes a gym, a temple, and a baraatghar (wedding hall).

The RWA had submitted a letter to the New Delhi Assembly constituency MLA, Parvesh Sahib Singh, requesting him to solve the problems faced by residents. Their concerns include broken handpumps, lack of security guards, overgrown trees, and leakage in water pipelines.

“The NDMC places the highest priority on the safety and welfare of its employees. After a detailed structural assessment, the Palika Dham flats, which are more than 50 years old and have outlived their lifespan, were declared unsafe for habitation. The safety of residents cannot be compromised under any circumstances. 

However, regular maintenance of these flats was being carried out by the council,” an official had said. The official added that the civic body has taken proactive steps to ensure that affected residents are offered new, suitable and more spacious alternative accommodations.