Bengaluru PG safety concerns grow, call for unified regulation

An editorial in Deccan Herald has highlighted safety concerns over paying guest (PG) accommodations in Bengaluru, noting that many operate without proper oversight. It argues that authorities must regulate these establishments based on their actual use, regardless of whether they are called PGs, hostels, co-living spaces, or service apartments.

The piece calls for a unified digital database of all such premises and their compliance status. It points out that the lack of a clear regulatory framework leaves tenants vulnerable to safety hazards and exploitation, as these spaces often fall through the cracks of existing building, fire, and civic laws.

The editorial urges the government to take proactive steps to ensure minimum safety standards are met across all types of shared housing in the city. The next step would be for the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP) or the state government to initiate a policy framework and begin compiling the proposed database.