GBA plans stricter safety norms for PG accommodations

Students have taken to social media to highlight the poor quality of food. | Photo Credit: File photo The Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) is preparing a fresh standard operating procedure (SOP) for the operation of paying guest (PG) accommodations, with a greater focus on safety and hygiene.A senior GBA official said the SOP was being drafted with several parameters, including fire safety, structural norms, requirements for smaller structures, fire exits, food hygiene, surveillance, and periodic audits. “These PG accommodations barely comply with fire safety norms. Several structures have building violations. So, there was a need for an SOP to at least ensure compliance with safety requirements,” he said.Another official said there had been recurring complaints about food in several areas with a large student population. Students have taken to social media to highlight the poor quality of food.RaidsLast month, Food Safety and Drug Administration (FSDA) officials inspected several PG accommodations and found multiple violations. However, this was not the first such instance.The corporations under the GBA had conducted multiple raids on PG accommodations across the city, which had even led to some facilities being fined. However, citizen groups had said these inspections appeared to be more of a revenue-generation exercise than a genuine effort to address the issues.However, the raids did not continue, despite some efforts to tighten the rules. The GBA official, however, acknowledged that there were several challenges in implementing stricter rules and cracking down on these facilities. He also noted that at least safety requirements could be enforced through rigorous inspections and crackdowns.Meanwhile, there have also been demands to cap charges for PG accommodations, with many flagging exorbitant rates. Published - October 28, 2026 08:36 pm IST