Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra on Thursday said the state government has decided to scrap the bed and breakfast (B&B) policy and conduct a review of all establishments operating under the scheme in the wake of the devastating fire at the Flourish Stay hotel in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar that claimed 21 lives.
Mishra said the government would formally withdraw the scheme and take action against operators violating license conditions.
“We will formally withdraw the bed and breakfast system and all establishments licensed under it will be inspected,” Mishra said, according to a PTI report.
The minister was quoted as saying, “The necessary measures will be taken against operators who violate the license conditions. If it is found that any facility registered in the system operates more than six rooms, its license will be cancelled.”
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What happened in Malviya Nagar?
This decision comes in the wake of the fire that occurred on Wednesday at Flourish B&B, which claimed the lives of 21 people, including 11 foreigners, and left several others injured.
According to Mishra, the property has been granted a license under the bed and breakfast scheme in 2024 in the silver category for six rooms, with the permit valid until 2027.
However, investigators alleged that the facility was operating far beyond permitted capacity and lacked a mandatory fire safety permit. Police sources said that the property includes about 25 rooms, some of which are located in the basement.
Explaining the role of the Ministry of Tourism, Mishra said it is largely limited to issuing and renewing licenses and conducting compliance checks during inspections.
“Owners are required to submit guest records to the local police station every 15 days. The tourism department has no role in the day-to-day functioning of these establishments,” he said.
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This step comes after the proposed comprehensive reform
The move to withdraw the policy comes even as the ministry recently proposed a comprehensive overhaul of the existing framework.
Last month, it released a draft policy proposing major changes to the scheme. The proposal provided gold and silver categories, with classification based on room size, furnishings, sanitation standards, guest amenities and safety arrangements, according to a senior official.
As of 2023, more than 2,200 rooms spread across 432 properties in the national capital have been registered under the Delhi government’s bed and breakfast scheme.
Fatal accidents in the past month: urban planning expert
A series of fatal accidents in recent months have highlighted concerns about regulatory enforcement and oversight, said Jagdish Mamjin, an urban planning expert.
“In the past one-and-a-half years, Delhi has witnessed numerous deaths due to fire incidents and building collapses. The recent fire and building collapse tragedy in Saidulagab points to a larger systemic problem that needs attention,” he said.
Mamjin, former chairman of the Delhi Unified Municipal Corporation’s works committee, said the repeated incidents indicate shortcomings in monitoring and enforcement mechanisms.
“There appears to be a flaw in the system that directly affects public safety,” he said. “The discussion should not be limited to whether the establishment obtained a permit for six or more rooms.”
“The most important question is how the company continued to operate with a valid license when business activities were being carried out from the basement, which was in violation of norms,” he added.
