The devastating hotel fire in Delhi that claimed 21 lives, including 12 foreign nationals, has once again brought the issue of fire safety compliance in hotels under the spotlight. Similar concerns are now being raised in Amritsar, where hundreds of hotels operating in the walled city are allegedly functioning without mandatory fire safety clearances and in violation of building regulations.
A large number of hotels located within the historic walled city do not possess fire safety certificates issued by the Municipal Corporation’s Fire Department. Many of these establishments have reportedly been constructed without obtaining approval for their building plans and are operating in violation of building bylaws.
Residents and urban planning experts have expressed concern that these hotels pose a serious threat to public safety. Several multi-storeyed hotels have come up in narrow lanes, some barely three feet wide, making access difficult for emergency vehicles. In the event of a fire or any other disaster, the evacuation of guests and residents could become nearly impossible, potentially leading to a major tragedy.
Apart from regular hotels, many accommodations in the old city are operating under the Bed and Breakfast scheme. Due to a lack of regular inspections and enforcement by the authorities, even basic fire safety requirements are allegedly being ignored. Critics argue that the absence of stringent monitoring has encouraged the unchecked growth of such establishments.
According to estimates, nearly 800 hotels have been constructed in the walled city over the past decade. Since many owners did not obtain building plan approvals from the Municipal Corporation, they are technically ineligible for fire safety certificates under existing regulations. As per the rules, such structures are considered unauthorised and cannot be granted fire safety clearance.
The issue assumes significance as the Punjab and Haryana High Court imposed restrictions on construction activities in the walled city in 2012. Despite the court’s directions, hundreds of hotel buildings have reportedly been constructed and made operational over the years.
The matter was also flagged by the Chief Vigilance Officer of the Local Bodies Department in a report submitted in March 2024. The report identified several hotels allegedly operating in violation of regulations. However, no significant action has been taken by the Municipal Corporation so far.
Concerns are also being raised about the city’s firefighting infrastructure. The shortcomings of the system were exposed during the recent major fire in the Bansan Wala Bazaar area, where fire tenders reportedly reached the spot after a delay of nearly 45 minutes. The delay hampered rescue and firefighting operations, resulting in extensive property damage and loss of life.
Social activist Pawan Sharma said, “Keeping the Delhi hotel fire in mind, there is a need for a comprehensive survey of all hotels operating in the walled city, strict enforcement of building and fire safety norms, and immediate action against illegal establishments. Unless corrective measures are taken urgently, Amritsar could face a similar tragedy in the future.”
Repeated attempts were made to contact Additional Divisional Fire Officer Dilbagh Singh for comments on the issue, but he did not respond to phone calls.
