Five star hotels flouted rules: Maharashtra CM

The Mumbai police commissioner and the commissioner of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Commissioner (BMC) had carried out inspections of five star hotels over the past one year and found that a few had violated fire safety and construction norms. Giving this information on the floor of the house, the government informed the Assembly that action had been taken against the defaulters.

After receiving complaints regarding flouting of norms, the inspection was carried out in The Taj Mahal Palace, The Leela, Hotel Sahar, Grand Maratha, Hotel Lalit, Grand Hyatt and Le Meridien, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis who also holds portfolio of Urban Development informed the Assembly in a written reply. The issue was raised by Congress MLAs Ameen Patel, Aslam Sheikh and Varsha Gaikwad.

In the reply, the chief minister admitted that the Hotel Taj Mahal Palace in Colaba had not yet paid a fine of Rs 7 crore for illegal construction of footpath. “It is true that Hotel Taj Mahal has not paid the fine charged by the BMC for illegal construction on the footpath. Also, a few hotels at the airport started gyms and spas in the basement,” he said. The chief minister even added that the BMC sent written reminders to the Hotel Taj Mahal to open the footpath to pedestrians.

The inspections were carried out following complaints that hotels were constructing additional facilities beyond the permissible limit. The chief minister said that inspection at star hotels around the airport found violation of fire safety norms, and notices were served to six. Of the six, five had later complied with the guidelines to the satisfaction of the authorities.

At hotel Le Meridien, it was found that the management had altered the plan approved by the BMC and constructed a saloon, staff canteen, and an administrative office. “We sent a notice under Section 53(1) MRTP Act (Maharashtra Regional Town Planning Act) to the hotel. But later it was found that the changes made were legalised and hence no further action was taken,” Mr Fadnavis said.

Ameen Patel pointed out that the footpaths are public property but Hotel Taj restricted people from using it after the 26/11 terror attacks. “We are concerned about the security of the city. But the hotel cannot block a public place and make it private,” Mr Patel said.

He emphasised that the government should recover fines from the hotel for flouting norms