NEW DELHI: Delhiites may soon be able to enjoy open-air dining in the heart of the city. New Delhi Municipal Council has come up with a draft policy allowing restaurants in Connaught Place to use the open space adjacent to their establishments for serving food between 9pm and 1am on weekends.The civic body’s health department says that restaurateurs and hoteliers under NDMC requested that dining be allowed in open spaces adjacent to licensed eating houses like the practice in Municipal Corporation of Delhi and Mumbai Municipal Corporation. “Accordingly, it has been decided that to begin with, the permission sought may be considered for the eating establishments in the inner circle area of CP on experimental basis after seeking comments of the stakeholders/agencies concerned,” says.However, while MCD includes terraces as part of the open-air spaces, NDMC’s policy only talks about dining in front of restaurants, not the terraces. Since CP has heritage buildings, rooftop restaurants are not allowed there.An NDMC official said the response of Delhi Police and Delhi Fire Service on the proposed policy has been invited. Open dining will be permitted on Friday, Saturday and Sunday. Since the spaces on offer in Connaught Place constitute public land and eateries are located alongside other businesses, open serving will only be allowed from 9pm to 1pm. “No inflammable materials will be used for side temporary enclosure and no liquor will be served. No monsoon shed/umbrella cover permitted except table canopies. To avoid contamination due to dust and flies, non-inflammable temporary umbrellas with proper height can be used,” states the draft policy.The new provisions also ask for care to be taken to prevent nuisance to those in neighbouring buildings. “The lighting and ambient noise quality shall be as per the Environmental Protection Act, 1986 and other relevant Acts. No live performance will be allowed,” the policy says.The decision hasn’t, however, pleased the shop owners. Atul Bhargava, president, New Delhi Traders’ Association, said, “The showrooms are open till around 9pm. To enable dining from 9pm, restaurants will have to take over the open space from around 8pm, affecting the business of shops.” He added, “If NDMC is so keen to start open-air dining, the Central Park could be used for this.”
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/soon-dine-under-the-sky-in-the-heart-of-city/articleshow/96379833.cms
