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• Dehradun administration cancelled registrations of 103 homestays during an inspection drive across the district.
• Authorities found violations related to fire safety, guest record management, food licences and illegal commercial usage.
•Several homestays were allegedly operating as hotels, party venues and bars instead of owner-managed residential properties.
• The crackdown was carried out under ‘Operation Safai’ amid rising complaints linked to crime, public nuisance and traffic violations.
• Officials have started removing non-compliant properties from Uttarakhand Tourism listings while inspections continue in other areas.
The Dehradun district administration has cancelled the registrations of 103 homestays after inspections found multiple violations of Uttarakhand’s homestay regulations and safety norms. The action was taken as part of the ongoing ‘Operation Safai’ drive launched to check illegal hospitality operations and rising complaints related to public nuisance and criminal activities in some parts of the district. Advertisement
Inspection teams led by magistrates surveyed around 153 homestays across areas including Sahaspur, Raipur, Niranjanpur, Ballupur and Mussoorie. During the checks, authorities found that several properties registered as homestays were operating like commercial hotels, party venues and rental businesses instead of functioning under the state’s residential tourism policy.
Officials stated that many operators were running more rooms than permitted under their registrations. In several cases, owners were not living at the property and had leased the premises to third-party operators, which is against Uttarakhand homestay rules. Authorities also found some properties functioning as event spaces and late-night hospitality units in residential areas.
The administration cancelled registrations in multiple phases. Earlier, 17 homestays were deregistered, followed by 79 more properties and another seven in the latest round of action. The district administration has also initiated the process of removing these units from the official Uttarakhand Tourism Department portal.
The inspections revealed several lapses related to fire safety and licensing compliance. Many properties reportedly did not have functional fire extinguishers or valid fire safety certificates. Some units lacked mandatory food safety licences despite offering hospitality and food services to guests. Authorities also found that a few registered homestays were either non-operational or had changed ownership without informing the concerned departments.
Officials further observed irregularities in guest documentation and foreign visitor reporting. Some operators allegedly failed to maintain proper guest records or submit mandatory Form-C details for foreign nationals staying at the properties, which is a key compliance requirement for accommodation providers.
The crackdown comes amid increasing complaints from residents regarding drunk driving, loud late-night gatherings, over-speeding and disturbances linked to guests staying at certain homestays. Authorities also said some properties were allegedly involved in running illegal bars and hosting unauthorised parties, leading to repeated law and order concerns in residential localities.
District Magistrate Savin Bansal said the original purpose of the Uttarakhand homestay policy was to support local families, promote tourism and generate supplementary income for residents by allowing tourists to stay in owner-managed homes. However, officials found that several urban properties were being used as fully commercial hospitality businesses, which went against the intent of the scheme.
Over the past few years, Uttarakhand has witnessed rapid growth in homestays due to increasing tourism activity in Dehradun, Mussoorie and nearby hill regions. The state government has actively promoted homestays as part of its tourism development strategy, especially after the pandemic when demand for smaller and private accommodation options increased. However, authorities have also been raising concerns over unregulated operations and misuse of registrations in urban pockets.
The district administration has indicated that inspections will continue in the coming weeks and further action may be taken against additional properties found violating operational, safety and tourism regulations.
Source PTI
5th Jun, 2025
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