U’khand to revise building bylaws after entire state placed in top quake risk zone

Dehradun: Uttarakhand govt initiated a comprehensive revision of building bylaws after the entire state was reclassified under Seismic Zone VI — the highest earthquake risk category — under India's updated seismic zonation map, replacing the earlier classification of Zones IV and V.Chief Secretary Anand Vardhan constituted a 14-member expert committee headed by Prof R Pradeep Kumar, director of Council of Scientific and Industrial Research–Central Building Research Institute (CSIR-CBRI), Roorkee, to review and update existing regulations framed under the 2002 seismic map. The panel includes representatives from Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Roorkee, Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS), Bridge Ropeway Infrastructure Development Corporation of Uttarakhand Ltd (BRIDCUL), urban development authorities and seismologists.On Nov 25 last year, TOI reported that India had released the revised seismic zonation map on Nov 25 last year under the new Earthquake Design Code, placing the entire Himalayan arc in the newly introduced Zone VI for the first time. The update indicated that nearly 61% of the country now falls under moderate to high seismic hazard zones. "Considering Uttarakhand's geographical conditions and rising seismic sensitivity, changes in building regulations are essential," Vardhan said.Officials said the committee will align the bylaws with updated seismic standards, climatic realities and modern construction technologies. The objective is to recommend safer, practical and disaster-resilient norms for both urban and rural areas while reducing overall disaster risk.Zone VI denotes the highest level of seismic hazard and requires structures to withstand stronger ground shaking and higher lateral forces. Vineet Kumar Gahalaut, seismologist and director of Wadia Institute of Himalayan Geology, said, "Updating the building bylaws is a natural consequence of the revised seismic zonation map. The revised classification exists on paper, but to implement it effectively on the ground among engineers and contractors, regulations must reflect the heightened risk." According to Gahalaut, the purpose of building codes is to ensure structural designs that prevent collapse and enable buildings to endure earthquakes.Piyoosh Rautela, senior geologist and former executive director of Uttarakhand State Disaster Management Authority (USDMA), said building codes are based on Peak Ground Acceleration (PGA), which measures the maximum shaking a structure is expected to withstand. "In Zone VI, the expected force is significantly higher," he said, adding that buildings will require greater ductility and damping capacity. He cautioned that structures designed for Zone V could "pancake" under Zone VI forces and that several existing buildings may need retrofitting.Officials said the revised bylaws will incorporate earthquake-resistant design standards, geotechnical safeguards, wind load provisions and climate-responsive construction practices. Though upfront construction costs may rise, authorities expect the changes to improve structural safety and reduce casualties in one of India's most seismically fragile Himalayan states.For people planning to build houses in Dehradun, Joshimath or Almora, the implications could be immediate once the rules are notified. Structural engineering certification may become mandatory, construction costs could increase by 10–20% due to higher steel and concrete requirements, and soil testing with deeper foundations may be required, an expert told TOI.However, another expert, speaking on condition of anonymity, cautioned that stricter norms could widen inequality if compliance costs push low-income families towards informal construction. He stressed the need for strong enforcement and third-party inspections to prevent regulatory violations.