Representative image showing Bengaluru PG.
Credit: DH File Photo
Bengaluru: Following the BBMP's issuance of closure notices to paying guest (PG) accommodations for non-compliance with various guidelines, the Federation of PG Owners Welfare Associations in Bengaluru has scheduled a meeting on Tuesday to protest the new directive.
The federation argues that these orders are causing unnecessary harassment to owners and creating rent-related issues for lower-level staff.
It also pointed out that the guidelines are too generic and fail to distinguish between large-scale PG facilities and small family homes converted into PG accommodations.
After the meeting, the federation plans to submit a memorandum to BBMP officials, requesting a relaxation of certain conditions. This development follows the civic body’s recent shutdown of over 21 PGs and issuance of closure notices to 2,320 facilities operating without the necessary permits.
Estimates suggest that Bengaluru has around 20,000 PG accommodations, most of which are in residential areas.
The BBMP’s new guidelines were introduced nearly a month after a 28-year-old woman from Bihar was stabbed to death inside a PG in Koramangala.
The guidelines require PGs to install CCTV cameras at every entry and exit point with a 90-day data backup, ensure a minimum of 70 square feet per occupant to prevent overcrowding, obtain a Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licence to operate kitchens, and employ a 24/7 security guard, among other stipulations.
The federation is requesting that the 70 square feet rule account for the total built-up area, including dining spaces, rather than just the living room. They also seek to remove the security guard requirement, arguing that each PG already has a manager regulating entry, and that hiring additional security would increase costs, ultimately affecting the PG residents.