Bengaluru: In a crackdown on unsafe and unlicensed accommodation, the Greater Bengaluru Authority (GBA) Thursday inspected 321 paying guest (PG) facilities across Bengaluru central city limits, sealed two establishments for gross hygiene violations, and levied fines totalling Rs 58,000.The drive followed a tragic incident that killed one person and injured two in a cylinder blast in one of the paying guest facilities at Kundalahalli under the east city corporation.The inspections were carried out in parts of CV Raman Nagar and Shanthinagar assembly constituencies on the directions issued by the GBA central commissioner. The drive was led by officials from the health department, with support from the revenue department and local enforcement teams.According to GBA officials, the inspection focused on basic safety, hygiene, and licensing compliance, amid rising complaints about unhygienic kitchens, fire safety lapses, and unauthorised operations catering largely to students and migrant workers.What officials checkedDuring the drive, officials verified the availability of clean drinking water, overall hygiene standards, kitchen cleanliness, and the condition of toilets. They also checked compliance with fire safety norms, installation of CCTV cameras, and possession of Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) certificates where food was prepared and served.The GBA officials said awareness-cum-compliance notices were issued to all PG operators inspected, directing them to rectify deficiencies within seven days to continue operations.2 PGs sealed, fines imposedOf the 321 PGs inspected, two were sealed immediately after officials found a complete lack of hygiene, including unsafe kitchen conditions and poor sanitation. Officials said Rs 58,000 in fines was imposed on PG operators.Resistance from PG ownersIn at least one instance in Shanthinagar, officials faced resistance during the inspection. At Garden PG, owners allegedly denied entry to inspection teams for nearly 20 minutes, prompting officials to seek assistance from local police. Officials found the PG was operating without a trade licence and running an unauthorised kitchen on the terrace. A notice was issued warning the premises would be sealed from next month if violations were not rectified.GBA officials said the inspection drive was part of a larger enforcement push to regulate the rapidly expanding PG sector in the city, especially in central and high-density residential areas.
