Telangana authorities to verify college fire safety certificates via new software

The Telangana Board of Intermediate Education (TGBIE) and the Hyderabad Urban Development Authority (HYDRAA) are implementing new measures to address the submission of fraudulent fire No Objection Certificates (NOCs) by private junior colleges.

To prevent future discrepancies, the TGBIE and the fire department will launch an integrated software system to verify NOCs submitted by institutions. This follows the discovery of fake certificates used during affiliation processes for the 2026-27 academic year. Officials emphasized that the goal is to ensure student and staff safety rather than to harass institutions.

In response to concerns from college managements, HYDRAA Commissioner AV Ranganath indicated that the agency may consider allowing fire NOC renewals every two years instead of annually to reduce the compliance burden. Additionally, the board is reviewing an Rs 8 lakh penalty previously imposed on colleges. Officials have urged institutions to use the HYDRAA online portal for streamlined applications and renewals to avoid reliance on unauthorized brokers.