Failed to upgrade fire safety norms, 27 rooftop restos to get KMC notices
Times of India | 14 January 2026
Kolkata: The Kolkata Municipal Corporation identified 27 rooftop restaurants that did not upgrade their fire safety norms, according to guidelines set by a state fire safety committee. These errant restaurants were caught off guard during an inspection by a joint team comprising the state fire services department, the KMC buildings department, and cops.
Upgraded fire safety norms were laid down by a special task force before Durga Puja, as a precondition for the owners of the rooftop restaurants, to reopen their establishments.
Among the mandatory measures, restaurant owners must keep 50% of the terrace space open to be used as a fire refuge. The shades must not be made of inflammable materials. There cannot be cooking on an open fire on the roof, and no gas cylinder can be stocked on the rooftop. The stairs leading to the terraces should be free of clutter for easy access in an emergency.
According to a KMC source, after consulting with mayor Firhad Hakim, who is also the chairperson of the fire safety committee, the civic body started sending notices to the owners of the errant rooftop restaurants, asking them to take effective steps to upgrade the fire safety measures within 15 days or face the consequences.
An official said, a further visit to these restaurants after the expiry of the stipulated time will result in a closure order being issued, asking them to shut down their establishments.
The joint team, comprising officials of the state fire services department, the KMC, and cops, assigned to conduct a surprise drive at the city's rooftop restaurants, found several anomalies. The restaurant owners need to rectify these anomalies if they want to keep their establishments open.
A 10-day drive that began on Dec 9 noted the existing fire safety measures at these restaurants and compared them with the mandatory fire safety measures. The comparison revealed that several rooftop restaurants are yet to upgrade to the mandatory fire safety measures.
A KMC buildings department official said that, barring a few rooftop restaurants in the Chowringhee-Camac Street-Theatre Road belt and some in the Gariahat-Ballygunge belt, the majority of the 83 restaurants, which were surveyed, are yet to reach the fire safety standard needed to run these establishments.
"While we found upgrade work in some restaurants satisfactory, some restaurants are still engaged in the upgrade work, and in 50% of cases the fire safety upgrade work was far from satisfactory," said the official.
According to a civic official, the owners of rooftop facilities were given an opportunity to submit an indemnity bond and, based on the declaration, they were allowed to reopen their establishments after Sept 15. Those who were allowed to reopen their rooftop restaurants were told to take corrective measures.
"We decided to give some more time to the owners of the errant restaurants to give them an opportunity to carry on with the business unhindered. If they cooperate, it is fine. Otherwise, we will be compelled to issue a closure notice," said a civic official.