Bengal Overhauls Hotel Licensing After Deadly Fires Expose Safety Lapses

Following two devastating hotel fires last week in Tarapith and Kolkata's Mirza Ghalib Street, which tragically claimed 18 lives, the West Bengal government is urgently moving to fix deep-seated flaws in its hotel, lodge, and guesthouse licensing system. The state's Fire Services Department has initiated a sweeping review, with plans to introduce stringent multi-level checks and end the current system that allowed critical safety permits to be granted with minimal scrutiny. The current system, implemented during the previous Mamata Banerjee-led Trinamool Congress regime, decentralized the power to issue 'fire safety certificates' and 'fire licences' to station officers, often relying on 'self-declaration' from owners. This fast-track approach meant that getting trade licences from local civic bodies and electricity connections from power companies became almost automatic, bypassing crucial cross-checks and creating significant safety vulnerabilities that are now tragically evident. Already, authorities have shut down multiple hotels in Tarapith and Kolkata and issued show-cause notices to dozens more for widespread safety violations. Looking ahead, the proposed policy changes will remove the absolute authority of station officers, introducing a two-stage approval process for fire safety certificates and fire licences. Additionally, civic bodies and power distribution companies will now be required to conduct their own thorough safety checks before granting trade licences and electricity connections. This move aims to prevent future tragedies by ensuring no hospitality entity can operate while ignoring fundamental safety aspects. The state is also framing strict Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for exit door maintenance and emergency evacuation.