"All rooftop restaurants to be shut down in Kolkata," orders Mayor Firhad Hakim

In a strong response to recent fire incidents, the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) has decided to shut down all rooftop restaurants in the city, terming them illegal and a safety hazard. Mayor Firhad Hakim made the announcement on Friday, highlighting that roofs of commercial buildings cannot be used for restaurant operations or any other encroached commercial activity.

This move comes shortly after the Barabazar fire incident raised serious questions about safety and regulatory compliance in commercial establishments. Citing public safety, Mayor Hakim stated that police assistance will be taken to enforce closures. KMC has issued a fresh notice stating that rooftop operations violate municipal laws and must be discontinued.

“We will ask the police for a list of rooftop restaurants. These places are illegal and must be shut. We will not allow commercial encroachment on building rooftops,” said Hakim. Addressing the logistical challenges in a lighthearted manner, he joked, “I’ve grown old now. If I climb every building to count rooftop restaurants, the Mayor will die.”

The KMC aims to take swift and coordinated action, working alongside law enforcement to ensure compliance. The step marks a major clampdown on unregulated dining spaces in a city where rooftop eateries have grown rapidly in recent years.

Authorities emphasize this is a preventive measure, not just a reaction, as Kolkata reevaluates urban safety and building use norms.