The Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to give additional time to rooftop restaurants across the city to comply with fire safety regulations, adopting a more gradual approach compared to the earlier urgency shown during inspections.
In December last year, municipal officials inspected several rooftop restaurants that had been shut down over non-compliance with fire norms. Owners were directed to quickly implement the required safety measures. However, according to a source in the building department, only around 12 rooftop restaurants were found to have complied with the regulations during inspections.
Many restaurant owners reportedly told officials that implementing fire safety measures immediately would involve high costs, making it difficult to reopen quickly. Some even indicated that it would be more practical to keep their establishments closed rather than rush the process.
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Following these discussions, the corporation decided to slow down enforcement. While monitoring will continue and regular updates on the progress of fire safety work will be maintained, there will no longer be the same pressure to complete compliance within a short time frame. Owners will now be allowed to implement the required measures at a steady pace.
In December, municipal inspectors carried out raids in areas such as Chowringhee, Park Street, Jawaharlal Nehru Road, Camac Street, Gol Park, Gariahat and Ballygunge to check compliance among rooftop restaurants.
The crackdown followed a tragic fire on April 29 last year at a hotel in Mechua’s Phalpatti area in Burrabazar, which claimed 14 lives. After the incident, the KMC, based on a list provided by Kolkata Police, ordered the closure of 83 rooftop restaurants citing fire safety violations. After remaining shut for nearly four and a half months, some rooftop restaurants were allowed to reopen before Durga Puja last year, subject to strict conditions.
