The Delhi government has officially decided to withdraw its Bed and Breakfast (B&B) scheme following the deadly fire at Flourish Stay B&B in Malviya Nagar that claimed 21 lives on Wednesday. According to reports from The Pioneer, Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra announced the decision on Thursday, stating that "We are going to officially withdraw the Bed and Breakfast scheme, and all establishments licensed under it will be checked." The minister specifically stated that any establishment registered under the scheme found running more than six rooms would have its licence cancelled. The MCD has also launched a sealing drive in south Delhi targeting unauthorised commercial units following the tragedy. As per The Pioneer, the decision to withdraw the policy comes despite the tourism department recently proposing a revamp of the scheme, with more than 2,500 rooms across 700 properties currently registered under the Bed and Breakfast scheme in Delhi.
The B&B scheme is a government licensing framework that allows homeowners and small operators to offer short-stay accommodation after meeting prescribed norms. As reported by Business Standard, the scheme was introduced in 2007 and was designed to promote safe and affordable accommodation in Delhi's residential neighbourhoods. According to a Financial Express report, the scheme covered more than 2,200 rooms across 432 properties in Delhi as of 2023. In its latest form, the scheme proposed categorising establishments into Gold and Silver classes based on room size, furnishings, sanitation standards, guest amenities and safety measures. Bed and Breakfast units are small, homegrown establishments that offer overnight stay and breakfast at affordable prices, with residents permitted to register part of their residential premises as tourist accommodation. The rules limit establishments to a maximum of six double-bed rooms that require adequate ventilation, lighting, water supply, power arrangements and parking facilities, with the owner required to reside on the premises.
Last month, the Delhi government unveiled a draft B&B policy aimed at regulating small-scale accommodation facilities operating from residential properties. According to Business Standard, under the proposal, only legally constructed residential properties would be eligible for registration, with a B&B facility allowed to have up to eight rooms and a maximum capacity of 16 beds. The draft policy also required at least one room to be reserved for guests, and excluded hotels, guest houses, lodges, serviced apartments, resorts, banquet facilities and other commercial hospitality establishments from registration. Safety provisions included mandatory installation of fire extinguishers, smoke or heat detectors, first-aid kits and functional door locks. Higher-category units would also have to install CCTV cameras at entrances and common areas. The policy empowered authorities to conduct inspections, including surprise checks, to ensure compliance.
Flourish Stay held a Silver-category licence issued in 2024 for six rooms, valid until 2027, but investigators found that the establishment was allegedly operating at nearly four times its permitted capacity, with around 25 rooms, including some located in the basement. Of the 21 people who died in the fire, 18 were foreign nationals and 3 were Indians. As reported by The Pioneer, authorities also found that the property lacked mandatory fire safety clearance and never received a sanctioned building plan from the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD). The B&B reportedly had only one entry and exit point, sealed windows and a sensor-controlled entrance, all of which hampered evacuation efforts. Hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj has been arrested and booked under several BNS sections, including culpable homicide not amounting to murder. The restaurant operating on the first floor had permission only to run a tea-and-snack outlet, while the structure lacked a mandatory fire safety No-Objection Certificate (NOC).
Following his arrest, hotel owner Lavkesh Bajaj's legal counsel confirmed that the case is in its preliminary stages and stated that they are opposing the police remand. The defense argues that the hotel owner himself is a victim of the incident, with the lawyer stating "My client, he's also a victim. His building has been destroyed and burnt down and he is tensed with all of this. Who wants it? Who has the knowledge that my building can be set on fire like this and I will become an accused in it?" Addressing allegations regarding illegal construction and scale, the counsel argued that these are matters of merit to be decided during investigation. "The allegations are also that the floor was a matter of 6 rooms and the one in front of it is a matter of 25 rooms. Look, all this is a matter of merits... It's a matter of investigation," the lawyer said. Despite citing Supreme Court judgments and constitutional mandates regarding arrest protocols under Article 22 and Section 47 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhit (BNSS), the court granted a 4-day police remand for the accused.
