The Delhi government is planning a new safety policy for paying guest (PG) accommodations, requiring owners of older buildings to meet stricter safety requirements before using them as PGs, nursing homes, schools or other commercial establishments.
Chief Minister Rekha Gupta said on Monday that the proposed policy will require owners of old buildings to submit a structural audit report and a safety certificate before the properties can be used for such purposes.
Policy Comes After Satya Niketan Building Collapse
The announcement follows the collapse of a PG building in Satya Niketan, South Delhi, which raised fresh concerns over the structural safety of buildings being used for accommodation and commercial purposes.
Under the proposed framework, building owners would need to demonstrate that their properties are structurally safe before they can continue or begin operating as PG accommodations and other specified establishments.
Delhi Has Been Trying to Regulate PGs Since 1993
The move is not the first attempt to regulate paying guest accommodations in the national capital. Efforts to introduce rules for PG facilities in Delhi date back to 1993.
However, despite more than three decades of efforts, a comprehensive regulatory framework for PG accommodations has yet to be fully implemented.
The latest proposal could therefore mark a renewed push by the Delhi government to establish clearer safety requirements and greater accountability for owners of buildings being used as PGs.
