In a major relief to restaurants and bars Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has permitted to remain open from 7 am to 11.30 pm from Friday. The Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) on its Twitter handle shared the BMC’s order allowing restaurants, bars, hotels, and food courts to remain open from 7 am to 11.30 pm. The order also states that markets and other shops will be permitted to function from 7 am to 9.30 pm.
Taking to Twitter, HRAWI wrote: “Restaurant closing time limit extended from today from 10.30 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. HRAWI met MC Mr Iqbal Chahal who assured to look into it and support the industry. We are specially thankful to the dynamic and proactive @mybmc for passing the order within 48 hrs.”
The Maharashtra government on October 7 had issued guidelines for timings of restaurants and bars. Hotels, food courts, restaurants, and bars in the state have been allowed to resume their operations from October 5 with a capacity not exceeding 50 percent or as prescribed by local authorities, the guidelines stated.
“It is hereby informed that the restaurants and bars will remain open from 8 am and close at 10 pm sharp, or as directed by the respective municipal commissioners or district collectors (depending on the prevalent situation of COVID-19 pandemic),” Dr. Dhananjay Savalkar, joint director (tourism), said in the letter issued on October 5.
