Ludhiana: Following a fatal accident at a paying guest (PG) accommodation in Delhi, Ludhiana residents and social activists have urged civic authorities to conduct an immediate citywide inspection of all PGs, hostels, and unauthorised commercial setups in residential areas.Locals warned that residential properties in pockets near Dayanand Medical College, Christian Medical College, Ghumar Mandi, Model Town Extension’s tuition market, and Pakhowal Road are increasingly being converted into commercial units or high-occupancy PGs without proper approvals. This commercialisation has strained basic civic infrastructure, including water supply and sewerage systems, while creating acute parking shortages and public nuisance.Residents emphasised the need to verify whether property owners have obtained required permissions, such as change of land Use (CLU) certificates, structural safety approvals, and fire safety compliance.“We have seen residential properties being converted into commercial establishments one after another. In several cases, parking is inadequate, and the buildings appear to have been modified beyond what was originally approved. The MC needs to inspect these properties before there is an accident,” said Surinder Singh, a resident of Model Town.“The issue is not only about whether a property is being used commercially. It is about how many people are staying or working inside these buildings and whether the structure can safely accommodate them. If a building has no proper fire exits, parking or safety arrangements, action should be taken before an emergency,” said Komalpreet Kaur, a resident of BRS Nagar.Activist Arvind Sharma from SBS Nagar has formally requested the municipal commissioner to direct the civic body’s building branch to initiate a comprehensive survey across the city.“Many families may not know what changes have been made to a building after they rent a portion of it. The civic body should check PGs and hostels for occupancy, fire safety, electrical connections, and structural compliance. Preventive checks are much better than reaching the spot after a tragedy,” Sharma said.Residents demanded that the proposed inspections cover fire exits, electrical load limits, property-tax compliance, parking availability, and water and sewerage connections to prevent future disasters.
