Mumbai: Rejoice foodies as your favourite cafes and restaurants will be ready to serve you.

The Maharashtra state government is likely to restart dine-in restaurants from the first week of October. 

After putting their shutters down for over five months amid the restrictions imposed due to COVID-19, the restaurants will now open with stringent guidelines in place. The state government will declare the final Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) in coming days.

Representatives of restaurant associations such as NRAI, AHAR, met the Maharashtra CM Uddhay Thackeray requesting permit to begin dine-in services after which an in-principle approval was given.

Ganesh Shetty, President, Pune Restaurants and Hoteliers Association (PRAHA) talking to Sakal Times said, "We had a meeting with Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray and he has given the permission to restart the restaurants from first week of October."

"CM Thackeray has assured us that the order for the same will be issued in next few days," he added.

 National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) has already submitted a set of standard operating procedure (SOP) with the state government covering issues pertaining to social distancing,  handling goods and general health and hygiene of customers and employees at restaurants once dine-in services are allowed.

Sitaram Kunte, Additional Cheif Secretary stated that the SOPs will be finalised after holding another round of meeting with representatives.