Negative feedback on the dismal quality of services offered by guesthouses in Delhi, especially those around Karol Bagh area, has prompted the Delhi Tourism department to start a scheme of grading guesthouses under silver, gold and diamond categories. In the scheme, for which advertising has already begun, interested guesthouse owners can contact the Delhi Tourism department and submit requests for inspection of their establishments. The advantage? The owners will be entitled to concessions that will be decided in future. Names of the graded guesthouses will be put up on the Tourism Department website, where prospective tourists to the city will be able to check them out.

Visitors will also be able to check the facilities provided beforehand and book accommodation according to budget and necessity. The guesthouses will be graded according to the kinds of facilities on offer. Availability of attached bathrooms, air-conditioning etc will be awarded more points. Guesthouses that want to register themselves have to be license-holders of the Municipal Corporation of Delhi, New Delhi Municipal Corporation or the Delhi Cantonment Board. A list of the guidelines can be obtained from Room 176, Old Secretariat. The grading will be valid for five years.