As per the latest guidelines, Mumbai is currently in tier three of the unlock plan. Under this, restaurants are allowed to offer Dine-in services with 50 per cent capacity till 4 pm after which only takeaway and home delivery has been permitted from June 7.
Reacting to the same, the Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR), the apex body of the hospitality industry in Maharashtra, said that the restrictions in the timing and operational days are not viable for our business model.
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According to the association, the first day saw 20-25 per cent of city restaurants opening up their shutters for the dine-in facility. However, due to time restrictions for dine-in, the restaurants could register around 30-40 per cent of business as compared to pre-covid times.
“Those on their way to work benefited as they could step into nearby restaurants to have breakfast and also lunch at restaurants located in commercial areas. But the restrictions in the timing and operational days are not viable for our business model. We expect the State Government to realize this soon and make necessary amendments so there is not only business continuity but our workers, who suffered a lot during the lockdown, are assured of getting their paychecks. Takeaways and home delivery post 4 pm will merely help us to keep our kitchens open and are hardly profitable, while having restaurants closed on Saturday and Sunday is definitely a big blow,” expressed Shivanand Shetty, President, AHAR.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) had earlier said that Mumbai falls in Level 2 but later BMC clarified that it indeed falls in Level 3 as it has 5.56 per cent positivity rate and 32.51 per cent oxygen bed occupancy.
On Monday, June 7, the Uddhav Thackeray-led Maharashtra government announced a relaxation on the lockdown curbs in phases as the state is witnessing a downward trend in the daily coronavirus cases.
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