Delhi Assembly approves bill to repeal old B&B law after Malviya Nagar fire

The Delhi Assembly on Tuesday passed a bill to repeal the capital's nearly two-decade-old law governing bed-and-breakfast establishments, following a June fire at a B&B in Malviya Nagar that claimed 23 lives.

The Delhi Bed and Breakfast Establishments (Repeal) Bill, 2026, aims to replace the existing framework with a new policy designed to make regulations more flexible and better suited to the changing hospitality sector.

The decision comes after the fatal fire in Malviya Nagar prompted authorities to intensify inspections across B&B properties and other hospitality establishments, focusing heavily on compliance with fire safety requirements, building norms, and other regulations.

Currently, more than 750 B&B properties are registered with the Delhi tourism department under the old legislation. Tourism Minister Kapil Mishra stated that the existing framework needed to be replaced to keep pace with changes in the tourism and hospitality industry. A comprehensive replacement policy will be placed before the council of ministers for final approval.

In May, the government released a draft Bed and Breakfast Policy, 2026, which proposed dividing establishments into 'gold' and 'silver' categories based on room size, sanitation, safety measures, and services. Officials have not yet clarified whether the final policy will retain all provisions from the draft.