Resto body in court, tells members to ‘stick to law’
Times of India | 6 May 2025
12 Kolkata: The National Restaurants' Association of India (NRAI), which on Monday filed a writ petition in Calcutta High Court against the closure of rooftop restaurants, has issued an advisory to members asking them to do a thorough check of all safety norms.
Around 90% of rooftop restaurants that don't have an enclosed space have shut down completely. The rest are operating their indoor spaces, which has taken a severe toll on their business, according to NRAI. The city has around a thousand rooftop and open-terrace restaurants.
"We are waiting for the hearing of our petition on Tuesday. Those rooftop eateries that are heavily dependent on their outdoor spaces have closed down. We have also asked our members and presume that they will operate their indoor sections in case it's feasible. So, most are doing it. There should be no legal hurdle to this since the KMC notification does not bar indoor restaurants from functioning," said NRAI president Sagar Daryani.
The Hotel and Restaurants' Association of Eastern India (HRAEI) has also held a meeting and asked all its member-restaurants to ‘adhere to law'. It has also decided to seek legal opinion on the issue. The HRAEI managing committee has decided to write to mayor Firhad Hakim and seek his intervention. HRAEI president Sudesh Poddar said none of its members had received a closure notice yet. "Some restaurants might have received notices regarding illegal constructions. We will wait for the mayor's response and then plan our next step," added Poddar.
Even though the NRAI advisory did not mention illegal structures, it expects member-restaurants to take ‘corrective measures' on their own in case they've violated the norms, said Daryani. "We are not aware of illegal constructions and it is up to the KMC to check and take steps. But we expect all our members to strictly follow the rules. Those who have transgressed should face civic action. But till anyone is found guilty, we will stand by them," added Daryani.
Around 50% of the revenue of rooftop eateries is generated from their open-air sections. "It varies from season to season and peaks in winter. In summer and monsoon, the rooftops are less crowded. But people's preferences have changed and many enjoy the rooftop experience and visit restaurants for it. Not more than 5% are fully open-air, though, but the rest will lose customers without the rooftops," said Daryani.