Two days after 'Mission Begin' order, Maha govt clarifies restaurants aren't allowed to open

NEW DELHI: Two days after a new 'Mission Begin' order which allowed hotels to operate at 100% capacity in the state, but made no mention of restaurants, the Maharashtra government has said restaurants in the state are not allowed to open, in a clarification provided to industry body Hotel & Restaurant Association Western India (HRAWI).
ET has seen a copy of the letter sent by Valsa Nair Singh, principal secretary, civil aviation and state excise to HRAWI. The Mission Begin order passed by the government on Monday had not mentioned if restaurants were allowed to operate, causing confusion in the industry. Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, president, HRAWI had written to the government seeking clarifications on the matter.

In her letter, Singh said: "Restaurants are not allowed to operate as per the latest order. Only hotels have been allowed with 100% capacity. Restaurants inside the hotel are allowed to open for only inhouse guests. The opening of restaurants is under the active consideration of the government and the same will be communicated as and when the decision is made at the appropriate time by the competent authority."

Currently, restaurants in the state are only allowed to operate for takeaways and deliveries.

Besides curbs on restaurant operations, the state govermment has also decided to keep bars shut. Bars are not mentioned in the list of prohibited activities in the new Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) guidelines, prompting states such as West Bengal to permit liquor consumption in restaurants in the state through a new order this week.

Anurag Katriar, president, National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) had told ET previously he didn't expect the easing of restrictions on bars in Maharashtra considering the continuing surge in cases in the state.