Delhi Hotel Fire: What Is B&B Scheme Under Which Property Got 6-Room Licence But Ran 25?
Delhi Hotel Fire: What Is B&B Scheme Under Which Property Got 6-Room Licence But Ran 25? Published By, Last Updated: June 03, 2026, 17:37 IST
Delhi Hotel Fire: What Is B&B Scheme Under Which Property Got 6-Room Licence But Ran 25? Published By, Last Updated: June 03, 2026, 17:37 IST Flourish Stay B&B was permitted to operate six rooms under Delhi’s Bed and Breakfast scheme, but officials found nearly 25 rooms running at the property. Rapid Read Police and firefighters at the site after a fire broke out at a bed-and-breakfast in a five-storey building in south Delhi's Malviya Nagar area, Wednesday. At least 21 people died and more than 40 were injured after a massive fire broke out at Flourish Stay Bed and Breakfast (B&B) in South Delhi’s Hauz Rani area near Malviya Nagar on Wednesday morning, exposing a string of alleged safety and licensing violations at the establishment. Most of the deceased were foreign nationals from Central Asia and Africa. Several of the injured remain critical, raising fears that the toll could rise further. Officials said the property had only one common entry and exit point and was operating without a fire NOC. Investigations have further found that the establishment was permitted under the B&B category for only six rooms but was allegedly operating nearly 25 rooms, far beyond its licensed capacity. The incident has now brought Delhi’s Bed and Breakfast Scheme into sharp focus. What Is Delhi’s Bed And Breakfast Scheme? Delhi’s Bed and Breakfast Scheme allows residents to register part of a residential premises as tourist accommodation. Under the framework, guests are provided bed and breakfast on payment, while the establishment retains its residential character rather than functioning as a hotel or guest house.
The scheme was introduced in 2007 by the Delhi government to increase affordable tourist accommodation in the capital without depending only on hotels. It was also meant to give visitors a more local, home-style stay and allow residents to earn additional income from spare rooms. As of 2023, more than 2,200 rooms in 432 houses across the capital had been registered under the B&B scheme since its launch. How Many Rooms Can A B&B Run? According to the preliminary findings cited in the Malviya Nagar fire investigation, the establishment was licensed for only six rooms under the B&B category but was allegedly operating nearly 25 rooms. Delhi’s B&B framework has historically been built around small-scale accommodation, not large commercial operations. The older rules classified establishments in Gold and Silver categories and laid down requirements for guest rooms, cleanliness, ventilation, bathrooms, breakfast facilities and guest records. A draft Delhi Bed and Breakfast Policy 2026, released in May for public feedback, also retains the small-scale character of the scheme. It proposes allowing a minimum of one and a maximum of eight lettable rooms, with a total of 16 beds, in lawfully constructed residential premises. It also makes clear that hotels, hostels, guest houses, serviced apartments and flats with exclusive guest kitchens would not be eligible under the framework. Who Regulates Delhi’s B&Bs? The main nodal authority for Delhi’s Bed and Breakfast Scheme is the Delhi government’s Department of Tourism. The Tourism Department registers B&B establishments, classifies them under the relevant category and maintains the official scheme documents. The certificate of registration is issued under the B&B framework and mentions the number of rooms and category for which the premises is registered.
However, B&B regulation is not limited to the Tourism Department alone. Several other authorities are involved in different parts of the compliance chain. Police verification is part of the registration process. The owner or applicant is required to undergo verification, and the establishment must maintain guest records, including details of check-in and check-out. In the case of foreign tourists, passport and nationality details are particularly important because foreign guest reporting norms also apply. Fire safety compliance falls under the relevant fire safety framework and the Delhi Fire Service, depending on the nature, height, structure and use of the building. What Is The Proposed Delhi B&B Policy 2026? The Delhi government has recently moved to update the B&B framework through a draft Delhi Bed and Breakfast Policy 2026. The draft seeks to modernise and regularise homestays by allowing online registration, self-certification and classification into Gold and Silver categories. The proposed policy allows only lawfully constructed residential premises to apply. Applicants must either own the property or have valid legal documents allowing them to operate it as a B&B. The proposed framework also limits B&Bs to a maximum of eight lettable rooms and 16 beds. It also proposes safety and quality requirements such as proper ventilation, lighting, filtered drinking water, attached or dedicated bathrooms, guest registers, police verification, foreign guest reporting compliance, fire extinguishers, first-aid kits, emergency contact displays and functional door locks. CCTV cameras, where installed, would be allowed only at entrances and common areas. Govt Constitutes High-Level Committee To Inspect B&Bs Delhi Home Minister Ashish Sood has directed officials to carry out inspections of all B&B units and immediately seal those found violating regulations.
“No need to issue any show-cause notice or give time to such owners for explanation. Just seal all the B&Bs," Sood said. The minister has also ordered the formation of a high-level committee headed by the South District Magistrate, with officials from the fire department, MCD, power, health, and tourism departments, to inspect all B&Bs in Malviya Nagar and across the national capital. “He has asked to submit a detailed report on the number of B&Bs, how many of them have been found violating rules, and how many of them have been sealed by today evening," stated a senior official, who was present at the site along with Minister Sood. News18 Newsletter Handpicked stories, in your inbox A newsletter with the best of our journalism submit About the Author Karishma Jain Karishma Jain, Chief Sub Editor at News18.com, writes and edits opinion pieces on a variety of subjects, including Indian politics and policy, culture and the arts, technology and social change. Follo... Read More First Published: June 03, 2026, 17:37 IST News india Delhi Hotel Fire: What Is B&B Scheme Under Which Property Got 6-Room Licence But Ran 25? Disclaimer: Comments reflect users’ views, not News18’s. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy Loading comments...
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