Hotel tariffs set to soar as Tamil Nadu govt orders dorms for drivers

economictimes.indiatimes.com:

Tamil Nadu government’s latest order asking hotels and lodges to provide dormitory and toilet services to drivers of guests may send the room rents soaring, hoteliers told ET. Amending its Tamil Nadu Combined Development and Building (TNCDB) Rules, 2019, the government has mandated the provision of a dormitory, enough space to move around the bed, a toilet and a separate bathroom for every eight beds. Aimed at the safety of drivers, the amendment is to ensure they get adequate sleep and rest before they resume their work.

As per reports, the number of road accidents rose by 2.5 per cent from 62,685 in 2019 to 64,106 in 2022 in Tamil Nadu. Hoteliers have said that while they appreciate the initiative, they expressed displeasure over it being undertaken without consulting them. Hoteliers informed ET that vehicles in the state are mostly owner-driven with only 5-10 per cent being hired vehicles.

Certain resorts already provide accommodation and drive-in facilities, along with subsidised food. “This is a good initiative by the government but it should’ve consulted us. We have reached out to members for their views.

The smaller lodges will find it (adhering to the new law) very difficult, and so will the luxury hotels. It will be very difficult to implement this,” said T Natarajan, Secretary, South India Hotels and Restaurants Association (SIHRA). The government has said the dormitory may be provided either on the premises of the hotel or lodge or within a 250-metre radius of the premises.