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Recognising some of these shortcomings, Delhi government had circulated a draft Bed & Breakfast policy on May 26 this year, but tragedy struck before new rules could be implemented
Forensics team members take photographs of the site following a fire that broke out at a hotel in New Delhi. (AFP)
The deadly fire at a Bed and Breakfast (B&B) facility in Delhi’s Hauz Rani area has exposed not just alleged violations by the property operator, but also significant gaps in the Capital’s B&B regulations, particularly when it comes to fire safety.
The tragedy, which claimed 21 lives, has raised questions about how a property allegedly permitted to operate as a six-room B&B was being run as a 21-room commercial establishment. But a closer look at the regulations governing B&Bs in Delhi reveals another concern—smoke and heat detectors were never mandatory under the existing framework.
As the issue snowballed into a bigger controversy, the Delhi government on Thursday announced it would withdraw the B&B policy following the Malviya Nagar fire tragedy.
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Delhi tourism minister Kapil Mishra said: “We are going to officially withdraw the Bed and Breakfast scheme, and all establishments licensed under it will be checked. Action will 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.”
Fire Safety Not Mandatory Under Existing Rules
The now-withdrawn B&B framework traces its origins to the Ministry of Tourism’s 2007 Incredible India Bed and Breakfast Establishments scheme, which was subsequently adopted by the Delhi government. The Incredible India Bed and Breakfast Registration and Regulation Act, 2007, was later amended in 2008, but key operational requirements under Form C, which outlines mandatory and desirable provisions for B&B operators, remained unchanged.
Under Rule 7 of the Act, applicants seeking registration were required to submit Form C detailing compliance with various standards.
The guidelines created two categories of establishments: Gold and Silver. Gold-category B&Bs were required to have rooms measuring at least 200 square feet and pay a registration fee of Rs 5,000, while Silver-category establishments required a minimum room size of 120 square feet and a registration fee of Rs 3,000.
The list of mandatory requirements focused largely on hospitality standards. These included well-maintained rooms with quality flooring, furniture and fittings, proper ventilation through outside windows, smoke-free and pest-free kitchens, clean drinking water, wardrobes with hangers, garbage disposal facilities and contact details of doctors.
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However, one key fire safety feature—smoke or heat detectors—was categorised only as a “desirable” provision for both Gold and Silver category B&Bs. Similarly, adequate parking space and road width were mandatory only for Gold-category establishments, while they remained merely desirable for Silver-category properties.
Draft Policy Sought To Tighten Fire Norms
Recognising some of these shortcomings, the Delhi government had circulated a draft Bed and Breakfast policy on May 26 this year, inviting public comments.
The draft proposed significantly stricter fire safety requirements. Under Rule 5(d), B&B establishments would have been required to comply with Delhi Fire Services norms, municipal regulations and applicable building by-laws.
Importantly, smoke and heat detectors, along with fire extinguishers of A, B and C categories, were proposed to be made mandatory for all registered B&B establishments.
However, tragedy struck before the rules could be tightened and 21 people, mostly foreign nationals, lost their lives in the inferno.
The Delhi government has now decided to withdraw the draft B&B policy altogether, with officials saying concerns had emerged over the possibility of residential properties being converted into commercial hospitality units under the proposed framework. The government has indicated that a fresh policy may be formulated after a comprehensive review.
ALSO READ | Malviya Nagar Fire: How Medical Tourism Across The Road Turned This Area Into A Maze Of B&Bs
The tragedy has now reignited questions about whether existing regulations placed greater emphasis on hospitality standards than on critical life-saving measures such as early fire detection systems.
With smoke and heat detectors remaining only a “desirable” requirement under the old framework, the incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of how B&B establishments are regulated and monitored across the Capital.
About the Author
Arunima is Editor (Home Affairs) and covers strategic, security and political affairs. From the Ukraine-Russia War to the India-China stand-off in Ladakh to India-Pak clashes, she has reported from gr…Read More
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