Why do so many businesses in Delhi operate differently from what their licences actually permit? This report explores how Delhi's complex and fragmented licensing system has created gaps in regulation, enforcement and accountability. Using the tragic Hauz Rani fire as a case study, this video examines how mismatches between official records and on-ground reality can have devastating consequences. From restaurants and hotels to street vendors and factories, the report traces how overlapping regulations, weak enforcement and bureaucratic loopholes have shaped Delhi's urban landscape. This is Part 4 of Hindustan Times' special series on Delhi's housing crisis, focusing on the city's licensing regime and the governance failures that continue to affect public safety.
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