Overview
- A LinkedIn post by Karthik Suroju on Thursday, July 23, 2026, showed a sign at an Indiranagar café that read “Workspace Rental Charges: Rs 99/hr” and said the shop was largely empty when he visited.
- The post and same-day coverage from multiple outlets prompted a strong online split with some users backing the charge as a way to stop long-staying customers and others saying the upfront fee sends an unwelcoming message.
- Reporters and commenters framed the fee as a response to high commercial rents and lost turnover when patrons occupy tables for hours after ordering little.
- Media accounts note no public statement or policy change from the café so far and focus instead on suggested, less confrontational alternatives such as minimum spends, laptop-friendly zones, time limits and expiring Wi‑Fi passwords.
- If other cafés follow suit, the change could shift where remote workers choose to sit and push businesses to adopt clearer, operational rules that balance hospitality with revenue needs.