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Time of India
12-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
City's open-air restaurants start back-end work to fix irregularities
1 2 Kolkata: Several open-air restaurants have started their back-end work to correct ' irregularities ' for which they were pulled up. Meanwhile, the Hotel and Restaurants' Association of Eastern India ( HRAEI ) has launched hygiene training for kitchen workers of all restaurants, which will be conducted in batches.A south Kolkata restaurant 'altered' its rooftop section to meet the regulations, according to a restaurant body official. "It received a notice from the KMC and took measures. The restaurant is now waiting for an inspection by the civic authorities and the fire department to receive a final clearance," he said.A Burrabazar rooftop restaurant was inspected by civic authorities and the fire department, which have given it clearance, according to the restaurant. Several others that received a notice from the KMC are waiting for the SOP that the civic body has prepared for rooftop eateries. It could bring about clarity, felt restaurants' bodies. "The SOP will help to remove ambiguity and hasten the move to remove irregularities, if there are any," said HRAEI president Sudesh ' Food Safety Training and Certification' (FOSTAC) programme on advanced catering at The Lalit Great Eastern Kolkata was was inaugurated earlier this week. The programme — to be held twice a month for a year — aims at raising hygiene standards across the city's restaurants. It saw participation from hospitality professionals from the city and neighbouring states. "The training will focus on food safety protocols and best practices in catering, aligned with the latest Food Safety and Standards Authority of India guidelines. The inaugural session was conducted by Anup Kumar Tiwari, national diamond trainer, initiative is part of HRAEI's continuous efforts to promote food safety, hygiene, and skill development within the hospitality sector, said Poddar, adding that other than civic, fire, and other safety norms, food safety was essential for all eateries. "It is not just a regulatory requirement but a fundamental responsibility of the hospitality industry. Through these training programmes, we want to instil a culture of excellence and accountability that meets global standards," he said.
Time of India
05-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
Resto body in court, tells members to ‘stick to law'
1 2 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. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo 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.
Time of India
03-05-2025
- Business
- Time of India
‘Self-correction needed but don't be indiscriminate'
Kolkata: Restaurants' bodies in the city, including the National Restaurants Association of India (NRAI) Kolkata chapter and the Hotel and Restaurants Association of Eastern India ( HRAEI ), have pleaded with the civic authorities to refrain from a blanket ban on rooftop restaurants. They, however, believe there is a need for 'self-correction' on the part of those who have been flouting norms to use terraces for commercial use. Mayor Firhad Hakim announced on Friday that all rooftop eateries will be shut down in the wake of the Burrabazar hotel fire last Tuesday. The NRAI is contemplating legal action against the civic move. You Can Also Check: Kolkata AQI | Weather in Kolkata | Bank Holidays in Kolkata | Public Holidays in Kolkata The associations, as well as restaurant owners, fear that shutting down rooftop eateries could be a crippling blow to the food and beverages sector. Many depend on their rooftop sections for business despite having indoor seating arrangements. A central Kolkata restaurant, which had a partially open terrace section, shut it down on Friday night. An open-air and lounge bar on Russell Street said it will keep its rooftop section open until a notification arrives. Several others were undecided about staying open in the future. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Co-Founder of Google Brain, Andrew Ng, Is Reported To Have Read Every... Blinkist: Andrew Ng's Reading List Undo According to the HRAEI, Kolkata has more than 600 rooftop and open-terrace eateries. "There could be some who are flouting the civic norms. They should be asked to take corrective measures, and action should be taken if they don't. But the rest should not be penalised for others' transgressions. Around 10% of the city's restaurants have rooftop sections, and they also employ around 10% of the total workforce in the industry," said HRAEI president Sudesh Poddar. An NRAI spokesperson said the association received the KMC notification. "It cited various civic rules that say constructions on the rooftop are illegal and that they need to be accessible to all. It also said that the terrace or rooftop is a common area which can't be used commercially. If this is the law, then why did the KMC and the fire department grant the necessary licences to so many rooftop restaurants? It is unfair to force them to shut down after so many years. Instead, we should be given a chance to correct the illegalities, if there are any," said the spokesperson. He added that most rooftop restaurants have bars which just renewed their liquor licences for a hefty sum. "It would be unfair to single out standalone rooftops. Several five-star hotels have multiple facilities like restaurants, gyms, and swimming pools on their rooftops. They should also be asked to shut them down," said Poddar.
