In a major enforcement drive targeting unsafe and unlicensed accommodations, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) conducted sweeping inspections across the city's central limits on Thursday. The crackdown led to the immediate sealing of two paying guest (PG) establishments and the levying of fines totalling Rs 58,000.
Safety Drive Triggered by Tragedy
The large-scale inspection operation was initiated in the wake of a tragic incident. A cylinder blast at a paying guest facility in Kundalahalli under the east city corporation resulted in one fatality and injuries to two individuals. This event prompted the GBA central commissioner to direct a focused drive to ensure basic safety and licensing compliance in the rapidly growing PG sector, which houses many students and migrant workers.
Officials from the health department, supported by the revenue department and local enforcement teams, carried out the inspections. The focus was on areas within the CV Raman Nagar and Shanthinagar assembly constituencies. The teams scrutinised 321 PG facilities for a range of critical parameters.
What Did Officials Check During the Inspections?
The inspection checklist was comprehensive, targeting fundamental living standards and safety. Officials verified:
- Availability of clean drinking water and overall hygiene.
- Kitchen cleanliness and toilet conditions.
- Compliance with fire safety norms.
- Installation of CCTV cameras.
- Possession of valid Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) certificates where food was prepared and served.
Awareness-cum-compliance notices were issued to all operators inspected, directing them to rectify any deficiencies within a strict seven-day deadline to avoid further action.
Two PGs Sealed, Fines Imposed Amidst Resistance
Of the hundreds of facilities checked, two were sealed on the spot. Officials found these establishments in a state of gross hygiene violation, with unsafe kitchen conditions and poor sanitation posing immediate risks to occupants.
The drive, however, was not without confrontation. In the Shanthinagar area, officials faced significant resistance at a facility named Garden PG. Owners allegedly denied entry to the inspection team for nearly 20 minutes, forcing officials to call for local police assistance. Upon finally gaining access, the team discovered the PG was operating without a mandatory trade licence and had set up an unauthorised kitchen on the terrace. A stern notice was issued, warning of sealing from next month if the violations are not corrected.
The GBA has framed this initiative as part of a larger, sustained push to regulate the sprawling PG ecosystem in Bengaluru, particularly in central and high-density residential zones. The authority aims to prevent further tragedies and ensure a minimum standard of safety for all residents.
