Illegal lodging, homestays raise major security concerns in Odisha's Puri after Red Fort blast case

Following the recent Red Fort blast incident, the entire country has been placed on high alert. The situation has triggered fresh security concerns in Odisha's Puri, the tourism-heavy town that witnesses lakhs of visitors daily. 

Police are particularly worried about tourists staying in unregistered homestays and illegal lodging facilities in and around the Puri Jagannath Temple.

While registered hotels and lodges are required to submit guest data through official apps, the holy city has seen an explosive rise in unlicensed homestays and anonymous lodging units.

"People are modifying their houses for tourists. They are not even putting up any signboard to evade tax and other regulatory norms. A simplification of the laid norms is needed so that people can abide by the rules. It can help avoid any unfortunate incident in the future," said a local, Biswajeet Mohanty.

Tourist Police Station Demanded

Amid such concerns, demand for the creation of an exclusive Tourist Police Station, similar to a Traffic Police Station, to manage the situation has intensified. 

The local hotel association has also expressed concerns over the mushrooming of unregulated accommodations, which is posing a threat to the land of Mahaprabhu Jagannath.

Around the Puri Srimandir, illegal lodges and homestays have reportedly multiplied rapidly, many operating without municipal trade licenses. These establishments reportedly admit guests without identity verification, maintain no records of their arrival or origin, and fail to report suspicious individuals, posing a significant threat to the temple and the city's security.

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With heightened terror-alert measures in place, police have intensified surveillance across Puri district. However, residents and hotel operators insist that illegal lodgings remain a serious security loophole and must be shut down immediately.

"Even police also don't have any data related to the tourists staying in homestays in Puri. If such things grow and thousands of people stay in those illegal homestays in and around the Srimandir, it will have a bigger security concern for the Puri Srimandir. So, there's need of a Tourist Police Station, similar to a Traffic Police Station to maintain these footfalls," said an intellectual, Sarat Raiguru.

Rampant Violation of Trade Norms

Puri hosts over 3,000 hotels, guest houses, lodges, and dharmashalas, alongside more than 2,000 homestays, all of which are required to hold trade licenses and follow strict guidelines on fire safety, parking, identity verification, and reporting suspicious visitors. Violations can lead to license cancellation, penalties, and legal action.

Despite these rules, many individuals continue converting residential buildings into unregistered lodges, ignoring mandatory compliance. Intellectuals and hoteliers have raised alarm, urging strong enforcement.

Rabi Narayan Sahoo, a hotel owner, said that sterm action needed against those running homestays, setting an example for others. It will help main the security of Puri, he added.

Puri SP Prateek Singh said the police are considering a new SOP for monitoring homestays and lodges to ensure tourist safety and strengthen security in the temple town. "We are having surprise visits and checking in such hotels and homestays and will soon come up with new SOP," he added.