Weekend rush: Mumbaikars return to their favourite joints

People have a meal at the Goa Portuguesa restaurant on Saturday. Pic/Ashish Raje

The state government's decision to allow restaurants to stay open till 4 pm on weekends saw many people rush to their favourite joints for a meal. However, as the restaurants are allowed only 50 per cent guests, many people queued outside them. Some were turned away.

Restaurant owners in the city have been demanding for the last three months that they be allowed to keep their establishments open in the evening hours as well, but neither the state nor the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has given a positive response.

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They have also been demanding compensation for their lost business hours, as running home deliveries and parcel services is not yielding sufficient revenue. Restaurateurs had expected some relief in Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray's speech, but none came and their wait for longer business hours still continues. However, with the CM stating in his speech on Sunday that the decision on malls and hotels will come soon, the owners are hopeful of a positive decision."

Kalathur Vishwanath Shetty, president Rashtriya Hotel Kamgar Sena, and the owner of a restaurant in Andheri, said, "We are now hoping for further extension of timing for us. We are facing tremendous losses and there is absolutely no relief package given to us, so far. As the CM has stated on Sunday that there will be a decision in the coming eight days we are hoping that it happens and our timings are extended."