We follow rules, say Aksa lodge owners

Lodge owners in Malad and Malwani said they have been following the rules and taking every precaution the police asked them to.

Lodge owners in Malad and Malwani said they have been following the rules and taking every precaution the police asked them to.

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There are more than 70 lodges on Aksa Road alone, some of them illegal. Though the police claimed they have shut all the illegal ones, residents said such lodges are open for business, especially on weekends.

“We follow the rules and take the necessary precautions. As a policy, we don’t rent out rooms to minors,” said Atul Shekhar, manager of Starlight lodge at Aksa.

Lodge owners said rooms and shacks are rented out on an hourly basis for Rs 150 to Rs 200. The charges are higher on weekends and holidays.

“Most legal lodges on the beachside charge up to Rs 1,000,” said a cottage owner, requesting anonymity.

While some claimed the police turn a blind eye to the illegal lodges, most lodge owners said the police regularly raid shacks and lodges, bringing down the crime rate. “We maintain registers after checking guests’ credentials,” said another lodge owner.