Mumbai: The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) has permitted hotels, restaurants, bars, and food courts to remain operational from 7 am to 11.30 pm from Friday under the Maharashtra government’s ‘Mission Begin Again’. On the other side, markets and other shops will be allowed to open from 7 am to 9.30 pm.

The move comes after representatives from Hotel and Restaurants Association of Western India (HRAWI) met BMC Commissioner IS Chahal on Tuesday. The representatives requested the administration to extend the timings of restaurants and bars. The civic body has granted the permission as a result all restaurants, cafes, bars will remain functional till 11.30 in night.

“Most Mumbaikars work till late in the evening. Also, restaurants are trying to recover after almost seven months of complete shutdown for dining. This extension will definitely encourage Mumbaikars to dine out and give restaurants a chance to recover and serve customers better,” Sherry Bhatia, President, HRAWI was quoted by TOI as saying.

The Maharashtra state government allowed to reopen the restaurants and bars from October 5 with maximum seating capacity of 50 per cent with additional COVID-19 norms to follow. The restaurants were shut for nearly six months amid the rapid spread of coronavirus in the state.