BBMP flags 148 new illegal PGs amid rampant violations

Bengaluru: BBMP has identified 148 new illegal PG accommodations after inspections over the last month, taking the total number of such illegal facilities to 2,330. The civic body also found that 658 of these PGs have violated regulatory guidelines. According to BBMP data accessed by TOI, east zone accounts for 547 unauthorized PGs, followed by Mahadevapura, with 527. East zone recorded the highest violations among unauthorized PGs, with 364 of them operating outside of regulations. In Mahadevapura, 29 unauthorized PGs were non-compliant. It may be recalled that a man walked into a PG in Koramangala and killed a woman in July, highlighting the security risk faced by inmates of such facilities. BBMP and police responded by announcing a fresh set of guidelines for them to follow."Residents from east and Mahadevapura zones have been constantly complaining about illegal PG menace and their non-compliance of rules, calling for stricter action to regulate them," said senior BBMP official. The city's authorized PGs aren't exempt from violations either. Out of 2,180 registered PGs, 595 were found flouting regulations, with Mahadevapura again topping the list with 276 non-compliant authorized PGs. The findings have highlighted the scale of challenges faced by the civic body in enforcing guidelines.Zones such as Bommanahalli and Yelahanka recorded full compliance among registered PGs, but east and south zones reported significant non-compliance. All 81 authorized PGs in Bommanahalli zone follow BBMP guidelines, while in RR Nagar, only 35 of 116 registered PGs are compliant.Suralkar Vikas Kishore, special commissioner (welfare), BBMP, said, "The rise in unauthorized PGs and widespread non-compliance is a serious concern. We are stepping up inspections and enforcement measures to ensure all PG accommodations adhere to safety and regulatory guidelines."
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