PG owners oppose AMC’s new SOP; propose PG council to curb nuisance

Ahmedabad: Paying Guest (PG) operators from across the city met the Ahmedabad mayor on Friday to express their strong opposition to the new Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) introduced by the Amdavad Municipal Corporation (AMC).

Operators argue the new rules could cripple their businesses, especially the requirement to obtain No Objection Certificates (NOCs) from residential societies, the police and fire department. The PG operators claimed that this threatens to undermine affordable accommodation options for thousands of students and workers in Ahmedabad.

The protest comes in the wake of the AMC’s move to comply with a Gujarat High Court directive aimed at regulating the PG sector. Under the new policy, PG accommodations face strict building use norms.

“This will impact lakhs of people who depend on affordable housing in the city,” said Minesh Shah, who led the delegation of operators.

Shah clarified that while they support the spirit of the High Court order—which focused on addressing nuisance issues, the AMC’s SOP goes beyond that and could unfairly benefit builders struggling with unsold flats, to the detriment of genuine PG businesses.

As an alternative, the operators suggested creating a ‘PG council’ comprising government officials, retired judges, and PG operators. They believe this body could help frame balanced regulations that protect both residents and operators. DeshGujarat