A day after the Maharashtra government announced relaxation in the COVID-19 curbs, the restaurant and hotel’s association have expressed their displeasure. Moreover, they also raised concerns over the huge losses they have been suffering since the pandemic began last year.
As per the new guidelines released by the state government, all restaurants can operate at 50 per cent seating capacity till 4 pm on weekdays whilst adhering to COVID-l9 protocols. Parcel and Takeaway will be allowed as of now.
Meanwhile, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has allowed the hotels and restaurants to remain open till 4 pm on all days for dine-in including weekends. Earlier, they were allowed to remain functional only on weekdays.
Read More: Mumbai: BMC announces relaxations on COVID-19 curbs; Here's what allowed
Talking about no major relief for the hospitality sector, Shivanand Shetty, President, AHAR said: “We are deeply hurt by the state government’s decision of not relaxing operational timings for restaurants. It seems we are being singled out and a vicious campaign is being run against us, we completely abhor this silence.”
“With a cap of 50 per cent capacity in force, we find no logic in not extending the timings till 11 pm. To have the restaurants open till 4 pm doesn’t make any business sense for us to keep our shutters up. The right to livelihood has been snatched from the workers associated with the industry who have lost their jobs. Measures to curb the pandemic is affecting them more than the pandemic,” he further stated.
According to the latest reports, on Wednesday, August 4, the hospitality industry has made a fresh appeal to the Maharashtra government to allow restaurants to remain open and extend the timings even on weekends.
The industry has also requested the government to revise COVID-19 protocols to operate restaurants without restrictions in cities and districts with very low cases.
The BMC has allowed the opening of shops till 10 pm on all days, which was earlier till 4 pm on weekdays.
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