New Delhi: Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Wednesday issued directions to allow restaurants to operate 24x7 with necessary safety measures in place and to do away with several licence-related restrictions, including those on service in open spaces such as balconies.

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The government also announced other measures such as initiating a process to abolish police licences and health trade licenses from local bodies for restaurants to end ''permit raj'' in the industry, according to a statement.

The decisions were taken at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and it was attended by restaurant owners. CM Kejriwal is yet to decide on new uniform fire safety norms. Also up for review will be the current policy of 10 per cent automatic yearly increase in licence fee.

Currently, restaurants are allowed to operate from 11 am to 11 pm in the Capital. Those licensed to serve liquor can operate from 11 am to 1 am. There are roughly 20,000 registered restaurants in the city, of which nearly 650 are licensed to serve alcoholic beverages.

The government said such steps will help the industry generate more employment in the city through higher demand, adding that this will set an example for the Delhi Model of ease of doing business.

In the meeting, the excise department agreed to review the existing policy of a 10 per cent automatic increase in the licence fees every year.

"On the request of restaurateurs to allow 24x7 business, it was agreed that the restaurants will be allowed to operate at all hours subject to the condition that they submit an undertaking that they will take care of the health and security of their entire staff," the statement stated.

Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia, who also attended the meeting, called for the restaurants to be able to pay their excise by March 31 from the existing deadline of February 28, and for them to make quarterly license fee payments without any interest, the statement added.

In the meeting, decisions were taken for the economic revival of the hospitality industry.

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"Delhi's restaurants are the pride of Delhi and provide employment to lakhs of people. I have directed all respective departments to remove unnecessary hassles in the smooth running of restaurants," Arvind Kejriwal said after the meeting.

The NRAI gave a detailed presentation for relief and ease of regulations and on ''permit raj'' constraining the restaurant industry's growth in Delhi.

The meeting decided to implement measures to ensure the introduction of licencing reforms in the restaurant industry.