Hotel in Qazipora Tangmarg Under Lens for Multiple Construction Violations
Tangmarg, December 5: A newly built hotel on the banks of Babal Canal in Qazipora is facing serious questions over a string of alleged violations ranging from misuse of residential permission to gross breach of road setback rules and local building norms.
The building was sanctioned as a residential structure by the Rural Development Department, but what stands today is a full-fledged commercial hotel, complete with multiple floors and facilities far beyond what was originally approved.
Situated along the busy Sheikhpora Tangmarg road, the structure has reportedly eaten into the mandatory 50-foot setback from the road centreline required under the Road Development Act. Parts of the building are said to be just a few feet from the edge of the carriageway, with the rooftop almost touching the road at places. Residents say this could prove disastrous in winter when heavy snow blocks roads and clearance machines need ample space to operate.
The area also comes under the Building Operations Controlling Authority (BOCA) regulations, which allow only 40 percent ground coverage and mandate 60 percent open space. Visual inspection suggests these limits have been exceeded by a wide margin.
Adding to the controversy, a large illuminated signboard proclaiming the property as a hotel has been put up, even though the Tourism Department has no record of issuing any hotel licence for the premises. Documents available with authorities still describe it as a homestay, leaving locals and observers puzzled over how the establishment is openly functioning and advertising itself as a commercial hotel.
People living nearby are angry. “This is not just one violation; it’s a series of them, and no one seems to have stopped it at any stage,” said a resident who requested anonymity. Many fear that if such constructions are allowed to go unchecked, more will follow, putting pressure on roads, drainage, and the fragile ecology of the area.
Till late evening, neither the district administration nor the Tourism Department had issued any formal response on whether demolition, sealing, or penal action is being considered against the owner or the officials who cleared the various stages of construction.
Authorities are tight lipped, but sources say the matter has reached senior levels and a detailed inquiry may be ordered soon.
The coming days are likely to reveal whether the hotel will be allowed to continue operations or face strict enforcement for the alleged irregularities.