The Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) has reported a revenue of INR 5.44 crore, earned by permitting 138 eateries to serve food in open spaces and 57 eateries on terraces, according to officials. This move comes after the MCD relaxed its norms for eateries in January of this year and requested traders to obtain licenses for serving food in open areas and on terraces through the civic body’s online portal.
Under the new policy, owners of eateries are allowed to serve food in the open spaces adjacent to the licensed eateries if the applicant is the legal occupant of open spaces or terraces.
However, an NOC from the Fire Department is mandatory, as stated by the MCD in a statement. The MCD has made an exception for eateries with open spaces on the ground level and those with a total open area of less than 90 sq. meters on upper floors, exempting them from the NOC requirement.
The MCD notification has also mentioned the annual license fee for open spaces on a roof or a portion of a roof, which is INR 200 per sq ft. For hotels rated four stars and above, the fee is INR 500 per sq ft. Officials believe that this policy will boost the corporation’s revenues, promote tourism, and create more job opportunities.
This move is expected to provide relief to the hospitality industry, which has been severely impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic. The policy will encourage eateries to serve food in open spaces, which will help in maintaining social distancing and providing a safer environment for customers. Additionally, the initiative will also provide a new source of income for the corporation and create more jobs in the hospitality sector.
Overall, the MCD’s decision to permit eateries to serve food in open spaces and on terraces is a step towards a more sustainable and safer way of dining out. The policy will not only benefit the hospitality industry, but it will also provide a new source of revenue for the corporation while creating more job opportunities for people.
