NEW DELHI: National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has written to LG Anil Baijal and deputy CM Manish Sisodia to lift the night curfew, review the capacity and timing restrictions on resturants, and permit them to operate according to the licensing conditions.

The letter signed by NRAI secretary general Prakul Kumar argued that extended operating hours would prevent crowding and help in improving the overall situation. It added that the restaurant industry was operating with capacity and timing restrictions for the last two years despite other activities being permitted to run as usual at different points of time.

“With the constantly declining numbers and overall improvement in the Covid-19 situation, states like Karnataka and Maharashtra have removed restrictions on the industry. At this crucial phase, any further restrictions on operations will be critical for the industry,” stated the letter.

A social media campaign started by restaurateurs and hospitality professionals also saw multiple posts stating how the industry was bleeding for the last two years due to lockdowns and restricted operations and was on the verge of collapse. The sector, the restaurateurs pleaded, needed urgent support of Delhi government to revive.

Restaurateur and the Delhi chapter head of NRAI, Priyank Sukhija, said every lockdown was seeing permanent closure of multiple outlets and loss of jobs. He argued that while consumers were willing to dine out following all precautions, restrictions were impacting their business.

Concurring with him, restaurateur Jasjit Singh said the business would only improve once the night curfew was lifted. The current 10pm curfew was killing their peak dinnertime business as last orders were being taken by 9pm and outlets shutting by 9.30pm. NRAI suggested that easing of restrictions would bring in the much-needed relief to the industry and help prevent further business closures and job losses for lakhs of workers.