Shops get relief in Mumbai, but restaurant hours capped

Only shops can stay open on all weekdays till 10 pm, as per BMC’s new order

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) on Monday night allowed shops and establishments to remain open till 10 pm on weekdays, and restaurants to operate with 50 per cent capacity till 4 pm on weekdays. The ruling comes after the state allowed local administrations to decide on relaxations. The general public, however, will not be allowed on local trains any time soon.

After much deliberation and delay, the notification on supposed relaxations came in on Monday. However, it still does not allow cinema halls, drama theatres and multiplexes (independent and inside malls) to operate, and continues to shut places of worship till further orders. Among stakeholders, restaurant operators could be disappointed as they are allowed to open with 50 per cent seating capacity only till 4 pm on weekdays whereas essential and non-essential shops (including shopping malls) can remain open on all weekdays till 8 pm, and till 3 pm on Saturdays, with an off on Sundays. Restaurants are allowed takeaway and home delivery as usual.

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Police stop joggers at Lokhandwala in Andheri. File pic/Rane Ashish

"The decision regarding reducing the currently imposed restrictions in Mumbai, Mumbai Suburban and Thane districts would be taken by the Disaster Management Authorities of the said districts," said the notification. Previously, when five-level curbs were enforced in the state, the Mumbai municipal authorities had taken a conservative view in not relaxing curbs despite eligibility.

Restriction on public gardens and playgrounds has been lifted and they can be used for exercise, walking, jogging and cycling. Gymnasiums, yoga centers, hair cutting/beauty salons, spas can remain open without the use of air-conditioners and with 50 per cent capacity till 8 pm on weekdays and till 3 pm on Saturdays and remain closed on Sundays.

The Level-3 restrictions would be continued in Kolhapur, Sangli, Satara, Pune, Ratnagiri, Sindhudurg, Solapur, Ahmednagar, Beed, Raigad and Palghar.

Traders happy, BMC order silent on malls

Non-essential service providers, retailers and traders in the city finally rejoice as shops and establishments will be allowed to remain open till 10 pm on all days of the week instead of the existing timing of 4 pm. There is slight relief for restaurant owners as they will be allowed to function on all days - no more weekend lockdown - but only till 4 pm.

Though restaurants can function on all days till 4 pm, the industry is upset. File/Suresh Karkera

While the state government has allowed the malls to operate as well, a BMC order issued on Monday night has no mention of these business entities in the city, which only means there will be no malls or cinema theatres operational in the city from Tuesday.

Shop owners called the new orders good news. "It is a great decision that has come at a time when we all were burdened with heavy losses. Finally we can look at some business revival now that we will be allowed to be open till 10 pm," said Narain Sugand, who owns a cloth shop near Crawford market.

With their timings capped, restaurant owners have demanded compensation from the government. "We are deeply hurt. It seems we are being singled out and a vicious campaign is being run against us, we completely abhor this silence," said Shivanand Shetty, president of hotel body AHAR.

"Gujarat allows commerce to remain open till 10 pm and has permitted social gatherings of up to 400 people and has also offered financial relief to businesses. Kerala is not collecting statutory levies from its businesses apart from giving several relief measures to the hospitality industry," said Pradeep Shetty of another hotel organisation HRAWI.

Kalathur Vishwanath Shetty, who owns a hotel in Andheri West, said, "This is a very unfair decision. We need to pay our staff and there are various expenses that we have to bear without any proper business timing."

New guidelines

>> AII essential and non-essential shops (including malls) to remain open on all weekdays till 8 pm and till 3 pm on Saturdays. Only essential shops will remain open on Sundays.
>> Public gardens, playgrounds can be open for exercise, walking, jogging and cycling.
>> All govt, pvt offices can operate on full capacity. Staggering of work hours to be done to avoid crowds while travelling.
>> Gyms, yoga centres, beauty salons, spas can be open without use of AC and with 50 per cent capacity till 8 pm on weekdays and 3 pm on Saturdays.
>> Cinema halls, drama theatres and multiplexes, places of worship to remain closed.
>> School, higher and technical education department will decide on the schools and colleges
>> Restaurants to be open with 50% seating capacity till 4 pm on weekdays.
>> Restrictions on movement from 9 pm-5 am.
>> Restrictions on birthday parties, political, social and cultural events, elections, etc

4 PM
Time till which restaurants can operate on weekdays