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After a deadly fire at Malviya Nagar B&B killed 21 people, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said Delhi govt will withdraw its Bed and Breakfast scheme.
At least 21 people have died in a fire at a Malviya Nagar BnB facility.
In the aftermath of the deadly Malviya Nagar hotel fire, Delhi Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra announced that the government has decided to withdraw its Bed and Breakfast (B&B) policy.
He also said that all establishments currently operating under the scheme would be reviewed as part of a wider assessment of safety and compliance norms.
“We are going to officially withdraw the Bed and Breakfast scheme, and all establishments licensed under it will be checked,” Mishra said, while speaking to PTI.
Also Read: Delhi Hotel Fire: Arrested Owner Admits Building Lacked Fire NOC, Says Someone Else Ran Operations
“Action would be taken against operators found violating the terms of the licence. If any establishment registered under the scheme is found running more than six rooms, its licence will be cancelled,” the minister added.
The decision follows the devastating fire at the Flourish Stay B&B on Wednesday morning, which claimed 21 lives and left several others injured. Of those killed, 11 were foreign nationals, highlighting the scale of the tragedy.
Flourish Stay Granted Licence For Six Rooms: Minister
Referring to the incident, Mishra said the tourism department had granted Flourish Stay a licence under the B&B scheme in 2024 for six rooms in the Silver category, with the approval valid until 2027.
However, the post-fire investigation reportedly revealed that the establishment lacked the mandatory fire safety clearance and was operating far beyond its approved capacity.
Police sources alleged that the property was functioning with nearly 25 rooms, including several in the basement, where multiple victims are believed to have died of suffocation after the fire broke out.
Also Read: Delhi Hotel Fire: Owner Says Business Boom Prompted Expanding Rooms, Fled Scene After Blaze
Addressing questions over the tourism department’s role, Mishra said its responsibilities are limited to issuing and renewing licences and conducting inspections to verify compliance with prescribed norms.
“The owners are required to submit guest records to the local police station every 15 days. The tourism department does not have a role in the day-to-day functioning of these establishments,” the minister said.
The move to scrap the policy comes even as the Delhi government’s tourism department was in the process of overhauling the scheme.
Just weeks ago, the department had floated a draft proposal aimed at modernising the framework. The proposed policy sought to classify establishments into two categories, Gold and Silver, based on parameters such as room dimensions, quality of furnishings, hygiene standards, guest facilities and safety infrastructure, according to officials.
Government data showed that by 2023, the Bed and Breakfast scheme had enrolled more than 432 properties across Delhi, covering over 2,200 rooms.
Malviya Nagar Fire Tragedy
The fire ripped through Flourish Stay B&B in Delhi’s Malviya Nagar, which was allegedly operating without a mandatory fire clearance certificate.
Also Read: Malviya Nagar Fire: How Medical Tourism Across The Road Turned This Area Into A Maze Of B&Bs
Authorities said 21 people lost their lives, including 10 Indians, nine African nationals and two citizens of Turkmenistan.
According to officials, the blaze broke out at around 8.30 am and rapidly engulfed the five-storey structure located in a narrow lane.
The building reportedly had a single access point, sealed windows and a sensor-controlled entrance, factors that hampered evacuation efforts.
Rescue teams managed to evacuate at least 58 occupants and rushed them to nearby hospitals.
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