CCTVs not mandatory in elevators but some have it

Some even have sniffer dogs to cars at entrance, and armed guards at entry and exit points

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The hospitality sector could have learnt it, albeit the hard way, after the 26/11 Mumbai terror attack. But the latest incident involving rape charges against Tehelka founder Tarun Tejpal has, again, exposed gaping holes in security at hotels. The absence of CCTV cameras in elevators is just an example — the elevator at one of Goa’s high-end hotels where the incident took place had no CCTV, the city police have confirmed.

Experts pointed out that government guidelines did not make it mandatory for hotel elevators to have CCTV cameras. “There is no written law about these things. The local police issue certificates after checking all basic requirements. Most five-star hotels, on their own, go beyond these guidelines in taking measures,” says Kamlesh Barot, former president, Federation of Hotels and Restaurants Association of India (FHRAI).

On speaking to representatives of several five-star chains, mostly off the record, Business Standard has found that the extent of security measures varies at different hotels and locations.

Some hotels — including of the Taj chain, which bore the brunt of the 26/11 attack — are learnt to have CCTV cameras in elevators as an extra precautionary measure. ITC is another luxury group that has CCTVs in elevators. This is in addition to surveillance cameras in the lobby, corridors in front of the room, and entry & exit points. An Oberoi Hotel executive only said: “Our hotel is adequately covered.”

Most chains refused to comment on specific security arrangements at hotels, but Starwood, which has Meridien and Westin under its fold, was more vocal. Pointing out that the group’s hotel elevators had CCTVs, Dilip Puri, managing director (India) and regional vice-president (South Asia), said elevators were a public place and cameras were the best way to avoid any untoward incident.

“We have a lot of checks within the brand and we do our own security audits, too, besides police guidelines. All the security systems, especially after the 26/11 attack, have been standardised across hotels,” says K B Kachru, executive vice-president (South Asia), Carlson Rezidor Hotel Group. He did not talk about CCTVs in elevators.

Police guidelines require hotels to have scanners, metal detectors and CCTV cameras at all entry and exit points, including the lobby areas on each floor. “Our concern is basic. It includes checking all in and out points, marking the identity of all those entering and exiting and making sure no contraband is brought inside. Hotels can have more on their checklist than these things,” says Rajan Bhagat, a spokesperson for Delhi Police.

Hotels in Aerocity, the hospitality district next to the Delhi airport, have perhaps beaten all in beefing up security — with shatter-proof glass on windows, view breakers and barriers, and more than 300 CCTVs. Despite this, Delhi Police has asked hotels here to increase the number of CCTV cameras, without which clearance is not given.

STILL WANTING

What’s mandatory

* Scanners at the entrance for baggage

* Metal detectors to check visitors

* CCTV cameras at all entry and exit points

What some do as ‘extra’

* Sniffer dogs to check cars at entrance

* Armed and unarmed guards at entry and exit gates

* CCTVs in elevators and corridors in front of guest rooms