The Delhi government has issued an order that discontinues a scheme under which the Tourism department had to send out approvals for opening stand alone restaurants in the city.
This order has been announced to boost the hospitality sector that is grappling with the effects of COVID-19
According to reports, Arvind Kejriwal, Chief Minister of Delhi directed the Tourism Department to alert the termination of granting approvals to stand-alone restaurants in the region.
The order issued by Manisha Saxena, Secretary, Tourism, stated, “In terms of the decision taken by the Chief Minister, GNCT of Delhi, in the meeting dated 07.10.2020 regarding Ease of Doing Business for Restaurants, the Voluntary Scheme of Granting Approval to the Standalone Restaurants being implemented by the Tourism Department, GNCT of Delhi, is hereby discontinued with immediate effect.”
During a meeting with Kejriwal, restaurant owners had raised this concern of the need of several approvals and licenses. A delegation of the National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) had submitted a representation for relief and easing of approvals. These approvals were restricting the growth of the restaurant industry in Delhi. Hence, for the ease of doing business, the minister directed officials to remove this scheme.
Before June 2003, the scheme for granting approvals to restaurants was executed by the Union Tourism ministry throughout India. However, the scheme was discontinued from June 30, 2003. From then on, states were directed to formulate their own guidelines.
The statement further said that the scheme was adopted by the Delhi Tourism department the same year. It was formally launched in 2004 for all restaurants having 30+ seats.
The statement concluded that the removal of the grant of approval by the Tourism department to stand-alone restaurants will provide relief to the hospitality industry. It will encourage economic growth as well as generate employment.
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