Delhi to Withdraw B&B Policy After Fire Tragedy: Minister Kapil Mishra
New Delhi: Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra said the Delhi government has decided to formally withdraw the Bed and Breakfast policy and review all establishments operating under the scheme following a deadly fire at a hotel in south Delhi’s Malviya Nagar area. “We will formally withdraw the Bed and Breakfast scheme and all establishments licensed under this scheme will be checked,” Mishra told PTI.
The Minister said, “Action will be taken against operators who are found to have violated the license conditions. If any establishment registered within the scope of the program is found to operate more than six rooms, its license will be cancelled.” he said.
The move follows a major fire at Flourish Stay B&B on Wednesday morning, killing 21 people, including 11 foreign nationals, and injuring many others.
According to Mishra, Flourish Stay received a license under the B&B program in 2024 for six rooms in the Silver category, valid until 2027.
But inspectors claimed the hotel was operating at almost four times its permitted power and did not have the mandatory fire safety permit.
Police sources claimed that the facility operates around 25 rooms, some of which are in the basement.
Explaining the role of the tourism department, Mishra said its responsibility is largely limited to the issuance and renewal of licenses and verification of compliance 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 running of these businesses,” he said.
The decision to withdraw the policy comes despite the tourism department recently recommending a renewal of the scheme.
Last month, the ministry published a draft policy proposing several changes to the existing framework. It offers two categories – Gold and Silver – with classification based on factors such as room size, furnishings, cleanliness standards, amenities offered to guests and security arrangements, a senior official said.
As of 2023, more than 2,200 rooms across 432 properties in the national capital were registered under the Delhi government’s Bed and Breakfast scheme.
City planning expert Jagdish Mamgain said the city had witnessed a number of fatal incidents in recent months, raising concerns about enforcement and regulatory oversight.
“In the last one to one and a half years, Delhi has witnessed a large number of deaths due to fire incidents and building collapses. The recent fire tragedy and building collapse in Saidulajab points to a larger systemic problem that needs attention,” he said.
Mamgain, formerly chairman of the business committee of the combined Delhi Municipal Corporation, said frequent incidents point to gaps in monitoring and enforcement.
“There appears to be a flaw in the system that directly impacts public safety. The debate should not be limited to whether the facility has a permit for six or more rooms,” he said.
He added that the more important issue was how he continued to operate with a valid licence, when commercial activities were allegedly being carried out from the basement, which was against the norms.
