August 23, 2025: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has been advised to implement a professional safety licence for Licensed Safety Officers (LSOs) on every high-rise building project in the city. The recommendation forms part of special safety control guidelines issued to the BMC on August 20, following approval by the state government. These guidelines were prepared by a committee established under the directions of the Bombay High Court.
The move comes in the wake of multiple tower crane-related accidents affecting pedestrians in 2022 and 2023. Notably, on 14 February 2023, concrete blocks fell from the 42nd floor of a residential construction site onto an adjacent road, killing two people instantly. The committee’s recommendations cover crane operations, facade and other installations at height, and measures to safeguard neighbouring areas, addressing a regulatory gap as there are currently no rules specific to high-rise construction accidents.
The report notes that debris, gravel, equipment collisions, and breakages often impact adjacent plots, roads, and gardens. Mumbai currently has over 4,000 buildings exceeding 100 metres, including 47 above 200 metres and 24 above 250 metres, with Lokhandwala Minerva being the tallest at 301.6 metres. Another 416 projects, ranging from 150 to 331 metres, are in the pipeline, with one proposed at 400 metres.
The committee recommends that LSOs, fully conversant with machinery, be appointed on-site and remain present until cranes are dismantled. All high-rises above 120 metres should maintain a safety team including an LSO, assistant safety officer, and two technical staff. The LSO will be responsible for workforce training, regular safety checks, and reporting all incidents—including near misses, crane failures, injuries, and reactive measures—to the BMC every six months.
These measures aim to enhance the safety of workers, pedestrians, and neighbouring properties, addressing growing concerns over high-rise construction hazards in Mumbai.
Source: The Times Of India
