Kolkata Rooftop Dining Faces Heat After Fire Tragedy

Kolkata’s vibrant rooftop dining culture is facing a major disruption as the Kolkata Municipal Corporation (KMC) intensifies action against eateries operating above ground level, following the tragic fire at Hotel Rituraj in Burrabazar on April 29, which left 14 dead.

The incident has triggered sweeping inspections and partial demolitions, leaving the hospitality industry shaken. On May 3, the Kolkata Police submitted a list of 83 rooftop restaurants within the city limits to KMC for inspection. Establishments such as Hoppipola, Whats Up! Café, Roots, The Astor, Oris, Drunken Teddy, and Park Street Social are among those reportedly under scrutiny, multiple reports confirm.

Here are 5 key developments from the ongoing crackdown:
Demolition Begins: LMNOQ Skybar on Park Street saw portions of its rooftop structure taken down the same day the list was submitted. What’s Up! Café on Southern Avenue and Serra Café in Sector V were also inspected. Serra has since halted its terrace operations, continuing with indoor dining only.
Court Intervenes: The Calcutta High Court has verbally asked state authorities to stop tearing down rooftop cafés. This came after a Park Street restaurant approached the court, alleging that demolition started moments after receiving stop-work orders, with no time for appeal.
Industry Body Responds: Abhimanyu Maheshwari of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI), Kolkata Chapter, confirmed that not all 83 establishments on the list have been served shutdown notices. He added that several cafés were believed to be compliant with existing building and safety norms.
Employment Threatened: According to industry estimates cited by The Telegraph, nearly 10,000 jobs are at risk as a direct consequence of the KMC’s actions. The hospitality sector, already struggling post-COVID, fears large-scale layoffs.
Financial Strain: Many restaurant owners had just renewed their licenses after paying substantial fees. With demolitions occurring weeks later, lakhs invested in compliance and infrastructure are now at risk, intensifying financial distress in the sector.

While safety remains a paramount concern in the wake of the Burrabazar tragedy, restaurateurs are calling for greater clarity and fairness in the enforcement process. The issue has now reached the courts, with the fate of dozens of popular establishments—and thousands of livelihoods—hanging in the balance.

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Kolkata Rooftop Dining Faces Heat After Fire Tragedy