Can strengthen hospitality ecosystem
Chandigarh should allow homeowners to host paying guests under a well-framed Bed and Breakfast policy. It can boost tourism, support local families with additional income and provide safe, affordable accommodation for students, professionals, medical visitors and tourists. At the same time, the city must protect the residential character of sectors. Mandatory registration, police verification, fire and safety compliance, adequate parking, proper waste management and a limit on the number of guest rooms should be enforced.
Dr Parvinder Singh, Chandigarh
A lifeline for homeowners
At a time when the government is increasing GST and taxes on essentials, the new B&B policy is not a luxury for homeowners – it is a lifeline. Thousands of senior citizens, retired officers and elderly parents live alone in kothis and kanal houses across Sectors 8 to 47 while their children are abroad. Their pension doesn’t beat inflation, their medical bills climb and their homes lie half-empty. Hosting paying guests under a regulated B&B policy gives them three things – company, dignity and income.
Capt Amar Jeet (retd), Kharar
Hotel owners stand to lose
B&B units will create problems and existing restaurant or hotel owners will be the main losers. It will also bring a bad name to Le Corbusier and his planning. It will change the original character of the city as homes will be converted into mini-hotels.
Kirpal Singh, Chandigarh
Not at the cost of city’s character
Allowing B&Bs without strict rules can lead to traffic woes, parking problems, noise and security concerns, affecting the quality of life of residents. While tourism should be encouraged, it must not come at the cost of the city’s unique character and heritage. B&B units should be permitted only under strict regulations.
Vineet Gandhi, Manimajra
Administration must strike balance
The new B&B policy can certainly promote tourism and provide homeowners with an additional source of income, but it must not be allowed to dilute the residential character of the city. The administration must strike a careful balance. Commercialisation of entire residential sectors must not become the unintended consequence of a well-meaning policy.
Ravinder Nath
Great idea, if norms are followed
Senior citizens residing in one-kanal houses or bigger properties are uniquely placed to benefit from this model, generating supplementary income while meeting the growing demand among tourists and visitors for a relaxed, homely accommodation. Such arrangements put under-occupied residential space to productive use while fostering community interaction and cultural exchange. The success of the initiative, however, rests entirely on compliance with prescribed safety, licensing and service standards.
Narinder Banwait, Chandigarh
Contradicts Corbusier’s plan
The UT Administration’s decision on a B&B policy contradicts Le Corbusier’s original city plan. It will not only lead to commercialisation but will also put extra pressure on the city’s infrastructure. The policy will also dent the city’s iconic beauty as it will further burden civic authorities with creating infrastructure for more people. Outer sectors should be considered under the policy, and only if absolutely necessary.
Ranjit Kumar Chandan, Zirakpur
500 sq yd criterion discriminatory
The ability to operate a B&B facility should depend on infrastructure, parking, safety and accessibility – not on the size of the plot. The 500 sq yd criterion is discriminatory. It excludes a majority of Chandigarh homeowners and restricts economic opportunities to a small section of residents. The policy must be extended to include 250 sq yd and above residential properties, especially those having the prescribed infrastructure and parking requirements, to ensure an inclusive and equitable tourism policy for Chandigarh.
Sandeep Gandotra
Hand over parks to B&B units
Senior citizens living in smaller homes can earn additional income through B&B units. Small neighbourhood parks could be handed over to B&B operators, helping reduce maintenance costs for the Chandigarh Administration. Corner houses measuring less than 500 sq yd, with adequate parking space, should also be allowed to register under the policy.
Sandeep Dahiya, Chandigarh
Will burden city’s infrastructure
By allowing paying guests under the new B&B policy, population density of the city will increase, which will put a burden on the infrastructure. The city’s law and order situation has come under scanner due to recent incidents, including the killing of a cashier at a medical store. Keep residential areas free from commercial activities.
Col TBS Bedi, Mohali
Curb commercial activity
Chandigarh homeowners should not be allowed to host paying quests under the B&B policy. We need to restrict commercial activities in and around residential areas as some market areas, like Sector 11, have become overcrowded, leading to lawlessness. There should be a cap of one or two chemist shops per sector, rather than letting Sectors 11 and 16 markets become mini-PGIs.
Opinder Kaur Sekhon, Chandigarh
Criminals may sneak into B&Bs
Allowing B&B units in residential areas to attract tourists, who are on a budget, sounds a good idea. However, looking at the current law and order situation in the city it may prove risky. Criminals known to commit murders and robbery in broad daylight may sneak into one of such rooms to change and freshen up or to simply hide as security is bound to be less in such facilities. Besides, the owners will always have the temptation to keep full occupancy, which may compromise the identity check of the guest.
Yash Khetarpal, Panchkula
Well-regulated policy needed
It’s a question of balancing property rights, tourism and the character of residential neighbourhoods. If too many houses become guest accommodations, the residential character of neighborhoods may gradually disappear. A well-regulated B&B policy can support tourism without converting residential areas into commercial zones.
Raj Kumar Kohli
Fraught with too many risks
The policy of permitting homeowners to host paying guests under the new B&B scheme is fraught with too many risks. It will certainly be difficult to distinguish between good and bad elements. Keeping an unknown person in the house for one to two days by elderly house owners is not safe at all. Even if their Aadhaar and PAN IDs are obtained, bad elements can easily flee after committing crimes.
NPS Sohal, Chandigarh
Opening doors to prosperity
The proposed B&B policy is a long-awaited and welcome initiative for Chandigarh. It will enable homeowners, especially senior citizens, to earn an income without mortgaging their homes while reducing loneliness through interaction with visitors. Tourists from India and abroad will experience Chandigarh’s architecture, greenery and hospitality, strengthening its place on the tourism map. An earlier such attempt in 2008 failed due to the misuse by some property owners and excessive red tape.
Vijay Katyal, Panchkula
Implement policy on trial basis
The City Beautiful is already having multiple hotels, guest houses and other tourist places for visitors to stay. If the policy is used as per the guidelines issued by the administration, tourists on a budget can visit city and afford low-cost stay with breakfast. People in the neighbourhood may face issues of parking woes and late-night nuisance. The administration has to check the viability of allowing residential places for tourists stay on a trial basis before giving a blanket clearance.
Wg Cdr JS Minhas (retd), Mohali
Hotels have plenty of room for tourists
The UT Administration’s move to revive the B&B scheme in Chandigarh is not a good idea. There are already a large number of hotels available in the city, which provide accommodation as per requirement and budget of visitors. The B&B scheme will commercialise residential areas. Undesirable activities can also start there because the residential area are least checked by the administration.
Gulshan Kumar
Initiative will boost local income
Chandigarh’s slow pace of development has failed to create sufficient jobs for residents. In this backdrop, the B&B policy is a welcome and practical initiative to boost local incomes, promote tourism and support economic growth. For the scheme to succeed, the administration must simplify the registration process. Houseowners should ensure safety, hygiene and proper verification of guests, while the Municipal Corporation needs to provide secure parking facilities.
Col Balbir Singh Mathauda (retd), Chandigarh
Hospitality meets city’s heritage
Despite being a meticulously planned city designed by a world-renowned architect, Chandigarh has never fully realised its tourism potential. While the city offers quality hotels, there remains a clear gap for budget-conscious travellers and visitors seeking a more authentic, personalised experience. The B&B model bridges the gap by creating a distinct category of accommodation – neither a conventional hotel nor a paying guest arrangement. At the same time, homeowners gain an opportunity to supplement their income while contributing to the local economy.
Hrishikesh Bharat, Chandigarh
Don’t let homes become ‘hotels’
I have lived in Chandigarh long enough to value its quiet, residential rhythm – something every sector already balances with its own booth market, SCO sites and shopping complex nearby. We don’t lack commercial space; permitting B&Bs inside homes only duplicates it within zones planners deliberately kept residential, eroding Le Corbusier’s principle of strict land-use segregation. The 2026 policy’s safeguards – mandatory parking, guest registers, no reception counters – look better on paper, but paper rules didn’t stop the last attempt either; enforcement is the real test.
Amit Singh Jaswal, Chandigarh
Ensure B&Bs follow regulations
The proposal to allow homeowners in Chandigarh to host paying guests under the new B&B policy deserves a cautious support. If implemented with strict safeguards, it can generate additional income for residents, promote tourism and make better use of existing housing without major infrastructure investment. The administration should ensure that B&Bs comply with all regulations.
Sanjay Chopra, Mohali
Don’t strain civic infrastructure
As the city is designed for regulated land use, the policy should ensure that it does not transform residential sectors into commercial hospitality clusters, straining civic infrastructure and disturbing its peaceful environment. Sustainable tourism and preservation of residential character need not be competing objectives, as when balanced carefully they can reinforce each other, ensuring economic development proceeds in harmony with the city’s enduring identity.
Vaibhav Goyal, Chandigarh
Safeguard interests of tourists
Under the B&B policy, the safety of tourists is of utmost important. A two-way registration can be introduced, where in addition to the homeowners, tourists are also required to register themselves by providing details of their stay with the respective chosen home. Details of all such B&B homes must be available online and in public domain. A grievance redressal mechanism for the tourists should also be there on the portal. This will bring more clarity, safety and transparency in the system.
Dr Neha Saini, Chandigarh
Prevent misuse of new policy
The new B&B policy can help families earn extra income and encourage more tourists to visit the city. Visitors can also enjoy their stay in a local home instead of a hotel. However, if too many houses start taking in paying guests, there may be more traffic, parking problems, noise and security concerns. This could disturb the peace of residents. Regular checks by the authorities can prevent the misuse of the policy.
Dr Kumud Sachdeva, Dera Bassi
Keep tariffs lower than hotels’
The new B&B policy is a positive step to promote tourism in Chandigarh while providing homeowners with an additional source of income. Similar models, including Airbnb, are already operating worldwide, often without adequate regulation. A government-approved B&B policy will ensure proper registration, guest verification, safety standards and accountability for both homeowners and the administration. To make the scheme successful, B&B tariffs should remain lower than hotel rates so that more domestic and international tourists are encouraged to visit Chandigarh.
NK Jhingan, Chandigarh
Checks & balances key to policy success
Owners of 500 sq yd and above houses braving the empty-nest syndrome will benefit from the new B&B policy. Besides regulations, it is imperative to ensure that the B&B character that entails no kitchen or reception paraphernalia, at no stage turns B&B into tenancy or a commercial paying-guest venture. Sustaining strict checks and balances is the key to success of the policy that benefits houseowners and visitors alike besides revenue generation.
Lalit Bharadwaj, Panchkula
Provide better hospitality experience
The B&B scheme is an opportunity to generate additional money for city residents. It will also help people living alone to interact with guests, spend good time and have healthy interaction. The scheme will give a boost to tourism as well. Hygiene, quality food, room standards and fire safety measures should be followed strictly to provide good hospitality services and safety as well. Compliance with protocols will help maintain the dignity of residential areas.
Abhilasha Gupta, Mohali
Don’t tinker with city’s character
The new policy should not be allowed in residential sectors because it threatens the planned character of the city. Le Corbusier designed these sectors as quiet, low-density housing zones, not commercial hubs. Allowing paying guests will bring daily traffic, cabs, delivery vehicles and parking chaos into narrow lanes meant for residents. Noise, late check-ins and strangers moving in and out will reduce safety and privacy, especially for elderly people and children.
Dr Shruti K Chawla, Chandigarh
New policy deserves a fair chance
Chandigarh homeowners should be allowed to host paying guests under the new B&B policy, which deserves a fair chance. It addresses a genuine accommodation gap through stronger safeguards such as mandatory registration, periodic inspections and strict action against violations. However, its success should be assessed realistically. It is unlikely to significantly boost tourism in the city. Instead, its real value lies in providing affordable and flexible accommodation for long-stay visitors, particularly patients, attendants and professionals.
Jhanvi, Chandigarh
QUESTION for next week
Are Chandigarh, Mohali and Panchkula truly prepared for the monsoon, or is it just another annual failure in the making? What needs to be done?
Suggestions in not more than 150 words (with mug shots) can be sent to openhouse@tribunemail.com by Thursday (July 9).
