Patna: Order to shut 18 coaching institutes, more to follow

By: Pushkar Ranjan
PATNA: The district administration has tightened its noose around the coaching institutes found violating registration and building bylaws.
Altogether 18 coaching institutes in different areas of the city have been closed since the drive launched on Friday following a directive of Patna DM Kumar Ravi in the wake of recent Surat fire incident in which at least 22 kids were killed.
“Closure order has been issued to 15 coaching institutes on Friday and to three on Saturday for violation of registration and non-availability of fire safety measures. Three institutes in Boring Road area have been directed to submit the registration documents by Monday,” Patna sadar SDO Kumari Anupam Singh said.
A team comprising SDOs of Patna City and Patna Sadar are inspecting coaching institutes in total 15 different areas. Most of the coaching institutes located in commercial areas, including Boring Road, Bazaar Samiti, Mussalahpur, Danapur as well as Masaurhi are being inspected.
“The reports based on inspection of coaching institutes in Danapur and Masaurhi are also being compiled. Action will be taken against the erring institutes,” a senior official in Danapur SDO office said.
Senior officials in Patna district administration said action is being taken against unregistered institutes whereas registered institutes are scrutinized on fire safety, area per student, parking and other norms envisaged by the Bihar Coaching Institute (control and regulation) Act, 2010.
Owners of most coaching institutes in the city claim they have adhered to the basic fire safety norms. However, since most of the coaching institutes are running from rented establishments, the institute owners say they can’t do much if the building was constructed in violation of building bylaws.
Incidentally, a large number of unregistered coaching institutes in the city are unidentified and are often located in crowded locations and running in poorly engineered buildings.