In the wake of the recent Barabazar fire that claimed 14 lives, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has announced a sweeping crackdown on rooftop restaurants and illegal commercial structures atop buildings. Citing safety violations and invoking Section 117(4) of the KMC Building Rules, 2009, the civic body will now issue formal shutdown notices to rooftop restaurant operators across the city.
Mayor Firhad Hakim, while confirming the move, stated, “A roof, like a staircase, is not owned by anyone and cannot be sold. Rooftops are meant for common use. Commercial use is illegal.” He added that failure to comply with the notice will result in strict legal action and immediate closure.
The Mayor also revealed that KMC has sought assistance from the Kolkata Police to identify and act against such setups. A monitoring committee is being formed to oversee the enforcement. “As per the KMC notification, there will be no rooftop restaurants in Kolkata,” Hakim emphasized.
Earlier, Business Upturn reported that six well-known restaurants inside Magma House on Park Street were shut down following a surprise inspection by West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee. During her visit, Banerjee cited serious fire safety lapses and described the building as a “tinderbox.”
According to a report by TaazaTV, Banerjee’s unannounced visit came just two days after the Hotel Rituraj fire in Burrabazar. At 24 Park Street, she pointed out narrow staircases, limited exits, and the dangerous use of LPG cylinders in multiple eateries. Following the inspection, Kolkata Police confiscated gas cylinders, and six establishments—LMNOQ, Barbeque Nation, Black Cat, Moti Mahal, Destination 16, and another unnamed restaurant—were forced to halt operations.
Banerjee has since instructed the Kolkata Police Commissioner, the KMC Mayor, and the State Fire Minister to launch an urgent fire safety investigation, stating firmly, “Public safety cannot be compromised.”
