Some restos check rulebook to stay on law’s right side

Kolkata: The recent scrutiny on fire safety at restaurants and pubs has led to a flurry of action among restaurateurs and proprietors. Some are making provisions for a fire exit, others are installing signage, and still others are organising documents before an inspection team arrives, while everyone is checking the validity of fire extinguishers.
On Park Street, where some of the most popular restaurants are located in old buildings with only a single entrance and exit for customers, some have marked out a rear gate that was used only by the staff as a fire exit. At a restaurant located in the section of Karnani Mansion facing Park Street, a passage that leads through the kitchen to a door that opens into the building's internal compound has been designated as a fire exit. Restaurants in Stephen Court and Queen's Mansion have also acted similarly.

"In old buildings where a restaurant has a 20 ft frontage, it is difficult to create a second exit in the front. In any case, if a fire were to occur in the front, the fire exit would then serve no purpose. So several restaurants have designated the rear exit used by staff as the fire exit," the owner of a popular restaurant on Park Street said.
A fire audit was done at the WhatsUp café on Saturday night. Owner Anirban Sengupta said, "We showed the fire officials the licences and documentation we had. Based on their advice, we have kept only the indoor section operational. The rooftop section will remain closed till we get more clarity."
At Acropolis Mall in Kasba, where several restaurants on the fourth floor, including Asia Kitchen, Hoppipola, and Chili's, are listed by Kolkata Police for inspection by the Kolkata Municipal Corporation, the mall management has provided copies of the sanctioned plan and has asked the restaurants to keep their licences ready for inspection by the authorities.
"There was some confusion over the names of restaurants that appeared on the list as it contains not just rooftop restaurants, but other restaurants as well. But we are open to inspection. Malls are modern constructions that align with building rules. The authorities can always seek clarification and carry out inspections," he remarked.
Restaurateur Anjan Chatterjee, who operates 39 dining units in the city, welcomed the inspection and said it would improve fire safety compliance in the city where restaurants have mushroomed in residential buildings.
"Since the food business is booming in Kolkata, restaurants have cropped up in residential buildings. Unless there are alternative entry and exits for the residents, it is a concern. Civic bodies in Delhi and Mumbai have also been very strict. If there is a genuine attempt to address safety issues, it is welcome," he pointed out.