AHMEDABAD: With a fortnight to go for rath yatra, Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation (AMC) will be doing a fresh survey of dangerous buildings along the route — from Jagannath Mandir, Jamlapur to Rukamini Mandir, Saraspur.

Interestingly, AMC has not done any comprehensive pre-monsoon survey of old buildings and structures in the city. AMC till date preferred to function with a list of unsafe buildings that was drawn up in the aftermath of 2001 earthquake.

Finally, good sense seems to have prevailed over the civic body to relook at the condition of old buildings in the walled city. At present, there are more than 150 buildings on the route which are declared unsafe. Deputy municipal commissioner, Central zone, IK Patel said, "The survey will be conducted to find buildings which are not safe for use." Ahmedabad Fire and Emergency Service officials say that these old buildings, particularly in the walled city, are disaster waiting to happen.

"We have already served notices to owners of unsafe buildings and asked them to take appropriate measures to safeguard the structure. Also, the notices will be pasted on the dilapidated structures," added Patel. AMC authorities are also co-ordinating with the police department to prevent crowd gatherings near these structures. Only 10 to 15 of the declared-unsafe buildings are unoccupied. Patel said, "We have strictly asked the inhabitants of these buildings not to allow any gatherings on roof tops and balconies."

The civic body identified unsafe buildings in areas like Jamalpur, Raikhad, Khadia, Dariapur, Shahpur and Kalupur — only to ensure that none of the buildings collapses during the yatra.

The civic body is also clearing up the debris on the route.