Mumbai : With drop in COVID cases the state government has decided to extend timings of shops and restaurants. Government has also decided that amusement parks will reopen on October 22.
At present, commercial establishments have to shut their shops by 10 PM. Now the timings for restaurants in Mumbai is likely to be extended by 1 AM and the timings of the shops is extended by 12 midnight.
This decision of extending timings was taken by Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and a COVID Task Force. The extended timings for shops, restaurants and bars were announced later by the state administration on Thackeray’s instructions.
With the festive season on, the retail sector has been demanding an extension in timings to boost footfall and cut losses incurred during the lockdown. Restaurateurs happy with move to extend working hours to 1 AM.
Last week, at a meeting of Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) ministers with party president Sharad Pawar, a demand was raised to give relief to the business community by allowing them to operate longer hours
Amusement parks have also been allowed to resume activities from October 22, which coincides with reopening of theatres, auditoriums and multiplexes. But the government has specified that its nod is only for rides that are dry and not water rides or water parks; a decision on the latter category will be taken later. Detailed guidelines for these will also be issued and it is likely they will be restricted upto 50% capacity, said officials.
The BMC said that they will follow the COVID guidelines issued by the government while reopening of theaters, drama theatres and cultural programmes in Mumbai from October 22.
Health minister Rajesh Tope said shop timings will be extended till midnight at least in Mumbai and restaurants will be allowed to take their last orders till 1 AM. “For the rest of the state local bodies can decide on keeping Mumbai timings as the base” said Tope.
The hospitality industry has unanimously welcomed the move. HRAWI senior vice president Pradeep Shetty said the association had petitioned the government repeatedly on the issue of timings. “Since Mumbai is the most restricted region in the whole country, we are very pleased to know that the chief minister has taken such a positive stand on it.” said Shetty.
AHAR president Shivanand Shetty said, “Restoring city restaurant timings to pre-Covid days is a very positive step and we welcome it. The move will enhance the festive spirit and mood of the industry. We expect the final copy of the order for implementation on the new timings soon.”
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