Dehradun's 21 unsafe buildings and 200 heritage sites: what owners and tenants should know, October 2026

Dehradun Nagar Nigam has marked 21 buildings in the city as dangerous, and people still live in 8 of them. In October the district also listed about 200 heritage sites and said its survey of

What happened

21 buildings, 8 still occupied. Doon Horizon and Dynamite News reported on 7 September 2026 that Dehradun Nagar Nigam had found 21 buildings in critical condition. Seven had been vacated, eight were still occupied, and six were stuck in legal disputes that limit what the administration can do. The alert followed a building collapse in Delhi's Satya Niketan that killed six people.

Where they are. The reports placed the buildings mostly in the old, crowded parts of the city: Aadhat Bazaar, Tilak Road, Moti Bazaar, Gandhi Road, Khudbuda, Kaulagarh Road, Chakrata Road and the Mohabbewala industrial area. Riverside settlements on the Rispana and the Bindal, including Kathbangla and Sapera Basti, were flagged as further risk zones.

Notices served. Executive Engineer Rajit Kotiyal told Doon Horizon that notices had gone to all 21 owners and occupants. The reports described weak foundations after the monsoon and sagging beams and cornices. Dynamite News said District Magistrate Dr. Ashish Chauhan and Municipal Commissioner Alok Pandey had put teams on the job.

About 200 heritage sites. ETV Bharat reported on 4 October 2026 that about 200 heritage sites had been identified in Dehradun district, among them Astley Hall, the LIC building on Chakrata Road, the Clock Tower, the Jama Masjid, Guru Ram Rai Darbar and CNI Boys Inter College. The report said the survey of dilapidated buildings is going on alongside. The DM told ETV Bharat that technical checks are being stressed. The report also said a workshop with experts and NGOs was planned for October, and that project reports would go to the state for approval.

What it means for owners and tenants

This section is our view.

If you rent in an old bazaar building, ask the question. Tenants and shopkeepers in Aadhat Bazaar, Moti Bazaar, and Tilak Road often do not know whether their building has a Nagar Nigam notice. Ask your landlord directly, and ask the Nagar Nigam if in doubt. Cracks in beams, a leaning parapet or a sagging balcony should not wait for a notice.

Buying an old building? Get an engineer first. A low price on an old central property may reflect a notice, a court case or a heritage listing. Ask for a structural engineer's report. Ask the seller in writing whether any notice has been served. Then check the Nagar Nigam's records before you sign. Our post on Uttarakhand's earthquake building rules explains what a safe structure needs in Dehradun's seismic zone.

Heritage listing can change what you may build. The October report does not say what rules will apply to the 200 sites. Until that is clear, if you own or plan to buy an old building on the list, keep in mind that demolition or rebuilding may need extra approvals later.

Old bazaar shops are moving anyway. Part of the Aadhat Bazaar trade is shifting to a new site. Our post on the new Aadhat Bazaar plot allotment has the details.

If you are looking for a newer building, browse property for rent in Dehradun on ILA Infra.

Questions people ask

How many unsafe buildings has Dehradun Nagar Nigam identified?

21, according to reports on 7 September 2026. Seven had been vacated and eight were still occupied.

Which areas are the unsafe buildings in?

Mostly the old city: Aadhat Bazaar, Tilak Road, Moti Bazaar, Gandhi Road, Khudbuda, Kaulagarh Road, Chakrata Road and others, with risk zones along the Rispana and Bindal.

How many heritage sites has Dehradun listed?

About 200, ETV Bharat reported on 4 October 2026, including Astley Hall, the Clock Tower and the LIC building on Chakrata Road.

Sources

Buying or selling property in Dehradun and unsure about the paperwork? Call Neeraj Thapa on +91 98320 03494.

How we write these: the ILA Infra team reads the reports listed under Sources and links every one, so you can check each figure yourself. The section on what it means for buyers is our own view, not advice.