Gujarat government drafts rules for game zones after after Rajkot TRP Game Zone fire

Among others, the proposed rules stipulate slip-resistant flooring, buildings be made of non-inflammable materials and not to have cooking facilities inside the amusement parks and gaming zones. Provisions have also been made for a licensing authority and a city/district ride safety and Inspection committee.

The objective behind the proposed Gujarat Amusement Rides and Gaming Zone Activities (Safety) Rules-2024 is to ensure that such tragedies do not take place again, said Patel. The government will not hesitate to take action against even senior officials or elected representatives, he added.

As many as 27 persons, including children, were charred to death in a massive fire that gutted TRP Game Zone in Rajkot city on May 25. Probe found that the facility did not have the No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the municipal fire department.

The rules have been drafted under the provisions of the Gujarat Police Act for “safety of public and repair, maintenance, use, operation and inspection of all amusement rides and gaming zone activities”.

The draft has defined various terms related to amusement rides and gaming zones while also prescribing the procedure for the beginning of their operations such as obtaining licence, its operation/maintenance/inspection/renewal, revocation of licence, and appeal in case of any grievance with the decision of the licensing authority.

The rules also include duties of the organiser and operator of the amusement ride/gaming zone. It requires the organizer to report in writing each adverse incident to the licensing authority and to discontinue the operation of the ride until a return approval for operation is issued.

It also proposed a police commissioner as the licensing authority in city areas and district magistrate in other areas. After receiving an application from an organiser to install an amusement ride or gaming zone, the licensing authority shall forward it for obtaining no-objection certificate from each authority concerned with fire safety, building use, structural stability, health, sanitation, and electrical installation, the rules say.

“On receipt of the NOC after due verification of the respective authorities, the licensing authority may obtain the recommendations of the City Ride Safety and Inspection Committee or the District Ride Safety Committee before granting permission for installation of amusement rides,” read the proposed rules.

The City/District Ride Safety Committee will consist of technical experts not below the rank of Class-2 officers from the state government, board and corporation.

In addition to compliance to the Indian Standard of Fire Safety of Buildings (General), the rules also have detailed provisions on various aspects of amusement rides and gaming zones like requirements for design, installation, operation, adverse incidents, minimum insurance cover, operation of the rides. The rules related to the operation of rides/gaming zones include protection against overspeed, protection against underspeed, emergency stop, manual winding retrieval and braking system for vertical rides.

-WIth PTI inputs