Planning a trip to Digha? Check the new rules for tourists

New regulations have been implemented for hotels in Digha to enhance waste management, tourist verification, and overall safety during the holiday season. These measures were introduced by the Digha Sankarpur Development Authority (DSDA) in collaboration with hotel associations to maintain cleanliness and security in the region.

Hotels are now prohibited from dumping waste on roads or into drains. Violations will incur a fine of ₹10,000 along with legal action. The DSDA will supply two dustbins to each hotel—one for liquid waste and the other for solid waste. All waste must be deposited in DSDA-operated collection vehicles, which will operate daily. If a collection vehicle does not arrive, hotels must notify DSDA using a designated helpline number.

Tourist verification has been made mandatory for all hotels. Guest details must be uploaded to the ‘Swagat’ portal following verification of identification documents. Any suspicious individuals or activities must be immediately reported to the police, with additional ID verification conducted if required. These rules aim to address security concerns, including incidents such as the arrest of two individuals from a Digha hotel in April, who were linked to a Bengaluru café blast and were staying using falsified Aadhaar details.

Hotels are also required to comply with updated guidelines for paying the Tourist Civic Amenities Charge (TCAC) via the ‘Swagat’ portal. These rules are designed to ensure standardized procedures, better resource management, and an improved experience for tourists visiting Digha during the festive season.