India, Sept. 24 -- The Delhi Development Authority (DDA) has directed that all high-rise buildings constructed before 2001, including malls, hospitals and educational institutions, undergo mandatory structural safety audits. The cost of the audit will be borne by the building owners or occupiers. The move comes amid growing concerns over the safety of ageing buildings, following incidents such as the Satya Niketan building collapse that claimed seven lives.

"The structural safety audit is mandatory to be carried out by all the owners of all high rise buildings (15 metre or above) which were sanctioned before March 21, 2001. The structural audit is to be carried out within three months," says a public notice issued on Sep 24.

The directi...