AHMEDABAD: Even as the state government announced that restaurants and hotels can deliver food round the clock, very few restaurants have opted to deliver food during curfew hours in the absence of guidelines from the police department as well as the state authorities.
The decision allowing 24-hour delivery is well-received by most restaurateurs as students, IT professionals, and resident doctors among others, tend to order in food. However, implementation poses a problem.
Dilip Thakkar, an Ahmedabad-based restaurateur said, “We will not start round the clock delivery just yet. Even though the state government has made this announcement, there is no clarity on part of the police department on how restaurant staff will be allowed to move during curfew hours. Once the guidelines come in, we will consider what can be done.”
Estimates by restaurateurs suggest that 85% of their revenues come from dine-ins especially during evening hours. However, most restaurants are currently dependent on delivery due to the night curfew. With curfew coming into force at 10pm, they are compelled to shut shop by 9.30pm.
Rushad Jinwala, another Ahmedabad-based restaurateur said, “With curfew in place, it makes no sense to carry out deliveries round the clock. Once the police department issues guidelines, we may continue delivery up to 11pm. Many a time, even delivery personnel are not available. They tend to panic and not pick up orders. That not just adds to our food wastage but also to the cost of operations that restaurants incur.”
Hotels and Restaurants’ Association (HRA) –Gujarat is set to make a representation before the state police department regarding the guidelines, said Narendra Somani, president of the association.
