In mood for spa or massage? Check out these new guidelines in Delhi

Service rooms at spas and massage centres will not have latches or bolts on doors from inside, and such establishments can only operate from 9 am to 9 pm, according to a new policy by the East Delhi Municipal Corporation.

According to the new guidelines cross-gender massages will not be allowed at spas and massage centres, and services will not be provided behind closed doors.

Service rooms at spa and massage centres shall have no latches and bolts on the inside of doors, and shall be provided with self-closing doors. External doors shall also be kept open during working hours, it said.

The policy by the BJP-led EDMC also includes possession of a professional certification by persons giving the service to customers.

"As per this new spa policy, only a male person (masseur) can offer massage service to male customers, and only a woman (masseuse) can offer massage to female customers," mayor Shyam Sunder Aggarwal said.

The policy was given an anticipatory approval on September 20, and it will be brought to the Standing Committee of the East Delhi Municipal Corporation, mayor Shyam Sunder Aggarwal had earlier said.

The EDMC on Wednesday said the new guidelines for operation of spas and massage centres will be applicable to all such facilities running in areas under its jurisdiction.

Recently, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal had also approved new stricter guidelines for operation of spa and massage centres, including a provision to ban cross-gender massages, to prevent sexual abuse and trafficking in the national capital.