NEW DELHI: The Maharashtra government is reducing the number of licenses required to run hotels and restaurants in the city besides introducing a new food trucks policy.

A delegation from the national restaurant industry led by NRAI (National Restaurant Association of India) president Riyaaz Amlani met with Maharashtra chief minister Devendra Fadnavis. The meeting was facilitated by member of parliament Poonam Mahajan.

Additional chief secretary Pravin Pardeshi, additional chief secretary Sudhir Shrivastav, Mumbai police commissioner Datta Padselgikar, municipal corporation commissioner Ajoy Mehta and others were also present in the meeting.

A multitude of issues were discussed especially those related to licenses and excise.

The chief minister said the government will reduce the number of licenses required for the restaurant industry and will work on a food trucks policy for Mumbai.

The BMC, police and tourism departments have agreed to take concrete measures in this regard.

With regards to licenses the chief minister said about 29 types of permissions will be reduced.

NRAI president Amlani said: “We are pleased to have the opportunity to make our case in front of forward thinking and dynamic chief minister. He understood our challenges immediately and passed immediate directions to ease doing business in Maharashtra. We are very optimistic that the restaurant and tourism sector will thrive under this leadership and Mumbai’s position will be restored as the culture capital of India.”