Now, on plots of 5,00 square yards to 1,500 square yards in residential areas, guesthouses can be built and made operational.

In order to regularize such facilities built on larger plots, the Department of Town and Country Planning (DTCP) has amended its guesthouse policy and increased the approved plot size by three times.

Now, on plots of 5,00 square yards to 1,500 square yards in residential areas, guesthouses can be built and made operational. Earlier, only on plots with a maximum size of 500 square yards were guesthouses permitted. Interestingly, in 24 hours, the DTCP changed the guesthouse policy twice, issuing an Order on Monday with some amendments, but changing it again following residents’ opposition.

On Monday, DTCP released an order authorizing such facilities to operate on plots of between 500 and 1,500 square yards, as well as authorizing such facilities to operate along the residential societies’ internal roads. Earlier, only on outer roads and service roads were guesthouses permitted.

However, after RWA’s opposed the move, the department on Tuesday was forced to make another amendment to its policy and removed the provisions related to the establishment of guesthouses along internal roads. Guesthouses shall be permitted on residential plots along an existing functional sector road with service lanes in compliance with the revised guidance. A senior DTCP official said, “The provision to allow guesthouses on 18 m and 24 m wide roads (internal sector roads) has been removed.”

DTCP director KM Pandurang told that, after receiving several representations from RWA’s, the change in the policy was made. Earlier, only 500-square-yard plots were permitted as guesthouses.

As a result, many guesthouses on slightly larger plots, such as 550 or 600 square yards, have struggled to profit from the scheme. The amendment provides for the regularization of all guesthouses on plots of 500 to 1,500 square yards. A new survey will be carried out by DTCP to find guesthouses on plots smaller than 500 square yards and along internal roads and take strict action against them, said RS Bhat, the Gurgaon district town planner.

Residents accepted the change. Sector 50 resident Praveen Yadav said allowing guesthouses on roads Within the internal sector would have created a huge problem. Because of security and law and order issues, we have been opposing such facilities within the industry. It would have put an additional burden on civic amenities as well. All guesthouses located along roads in the internal sector should be closed, ”Yadav said.

The department reduced the required minimum plot size from 1,000 square yards to 500 square yards in July 2019 for the establishment of guesthouses in residential areas. The limit on the number of guesthouses permitted in the residential sector has also been abolished. Earlier, in one area, only two guesthouses were permitted.

The department reduced the mandatory minimum plot size from 1,000 square yards to 500 square yards in July 2019 for the establishment of guest houses in residential areas. The limit on the number of guesthouses permitted in the residential sector has also been removed. Previously, in one market, only two guesthouses were licensed.

In 2017, several complaints against guesthouses and paying guest (PG) facilities in residential areas were received by the Chief Minister’s Office, after which it was announced that a policy would be formulated to regulate such establishments, and the MCG was assigned the task of surveying guesthouses in all of its four zones.

Source- IndiaTimes