Newstrack

Personal safety issues hinder Delhi's B&B model

Occupancy of the premises discouraging

Dinkar Farwaha - New Delhi

It's not even been six months since the Delhi Government launched the much hyped Bed and Breakfast (B&B) Scheme, yet speed bumps continue to play havoc in its roll out - the latest concern being the personal safety of B&B owners.

The scheme was launched to bridge the gap between the demand-supply of rooms in Delhi, taking into consideration the impending Commonwealth Games. With the confusion over property taxes, water and electricity charges (whether they would be charged at commercial or residential rates) being settled only recently, a new spectre has raised its head.

"Fearing for their safety, many people are hesitant to allow strangers into the house and are shying away from registering under the scheme," says Renu Dayal, innkeeper, New Delhi Bed and Breakfast.

A senior official from the ministry agreed to the fact that the latest issue of security is a cause of concern. "Earlier, the concern was whether power consumption on the premises should be charged at domestic or commercial tariffs and now, the security issue has come as a hindrance." However, he said that the predicament was likely to be sorted out soon. "The government is taking ample measures and the security concerns of the public will be sorted out in time," he said.

By promoting the B&B scheme, the government was trying to bridge the 30,000 rooms gap between demand-supply in the Delhi-NCR region. But there are other issues bogging down the scheme too. Statistics reveal abysmal performance figures. According to the state tourism department's recent survey, only 10 per cent of the bed and breakfast premises registered occupancy rates of 70 per cent. Furthermore, according to the same survey, as high as 40 per cent of the premises didn't manage to achieve even 10 ten per cent occupancy. Caught on the back foot now, the ministry can only expect a resurgence of the dilemma of the room shortages.