The Jaipur Development Authority (JDA) is set to take action against paying guest (PG) facilities that are operating in residential colonies along Gopalpura Bypass Road, with notices to be issued to operators and a requirement to cease activities. Should these facilities continue to operate beyond the specified notice period, they may be sealed. This move follows the Supreme Court’s directives regarding coaching centres and related commercial activities in residential areas surrounding Gopalpura Bypass, an area that has seen significant expansion of such establishments due to a large student population.
Supreme Court Directives Prompt Enforcement Action
As per the JDA’s regulations, PG accommodations are permitted under certain conditions, which include the shared use of a kitchen by the property owner and guests, as well as restrictions on the number of boarders based on available rooms. However, officials claim that the PG facilities under scrutiny are not adhering to these stipulations. The Supreme Court has been monitoring the situation, given the proliferation of coaching centres, hostels, and PG facilities in the area.
It has been reported that numerous properties are housing sizable numbers of students and working professionals, with some properties having added rooms without obtaining the necessary approvals. Additionally, there have been allegations of residential buildings being altered to create extra accommodation, prompting the JDA to investigate whether these properties are, in effect, being operated as hostels or commercial establishments rather than legitimate PG facilities.
Allegations of Unlawful Operations
Enforcement officials from the JDA have noted that some operators have classified their properties as PG facilities, despite their operational manner being more akin to that of hostels or budget hotels. The authority is also concerned about the contravention of land-use restrictions and building bylaws applicable to residential properties. This crackdown could pose significant challenges for students and professionals who rely on these accommodations due to their proximity to coaching centres and offices.
Coaching Hub and Previous Initiatives
The latest action follows the Supreme Court’s directive to address the concentration of coaching centres and associated activities along Gopalpura Bypass. The court had also instructed the relocation of these facilities to a dedicated coaching hub developed by the Rajasthan Housing Board in Pratap Nagar. The coaching hub, comprising 243 units, was developed at a cost of around INR 300 crore, according to earlier reports, although another court-related report estimated the cost at around INR 350 crore.
Only 14 units were eventually sold, with approximately three or four coaching units operating from the hub as of the August report. The wider crackdown has already involved action against coaching centres, with the JDA informing the Supreme Court that notices were issued to around 134 coaching centres in the area. Approximately 44 centres were sealed, several others ceased operations voluntarily, and about 66 centres stopped functioning.
Residents of colonies along Gopalpura Bypass have also raised concerns about traffic congestion, parking problems and the conversion of residential properties for commercial activities. They have alleged that some buildings have been modified beyond sanctioned construction limits, including the conversion of terraces into rooms for PG occupants. Following the issuance of notices, operators will be given a deadline to stop their activities; if they fail to comply, enforcement teams are expected to seal the properties.
