07 June,2021 04:46 AM IST | Mumbai | A Correspondent
A take-away customer at an eatery in Ghatkopar East in March. The pandemic has battered the industry. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
As the city opens further by allowing eateries and non-essential services to operate till 4 pm from Monday, hoteliers said the move won't help them much. They have grudgingly accepted the directive, but say business will improve only if they are allowed to operate in the evening and night. They are also worried about how their staff will get to work as not all are allowed on local trains yet.
The hotel industry says the business will pick up only if they are allowed to operate in the evening and night. Pic/Sayyed Sameer Abedi
On Saturday, the BMC clarified that restaurants, non-essential and essential services would be allowed to operate till 4 pm from June 7 onwards. Business communities said the timing is unlikely to help them generate more revenue.
Most food joints do a brisk business in the evening. However, it is intertwined with many factors including commuting convenience for customers as well as staff.
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Niranjan Shetty, AHAR vice-president, said, "It [relaxation till 4 pm] is a good move for us but won't yield any revenue as our key business is during the evening and night time. But something is better than nothing as the second lockdown has almost broken our backbone and caused too much loss to everyone."
Shopkeepers in the city hope the relaxations will soon change from Level 3 to Level 2 to give them some room for making money.
Viren Shah of Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association welcomed the move. "We were currently having an alternate day basis plan which was not at all useful. Further, we would also appeal to the government to give our staff vaccines as they will be coming in touch with consumers on a daily basis. I have already written to the government to consider allowing our staff to board trains."
Level 3
Unlock level of Mumbai at present
