JOIN USThe NDMC has sealed rooftop areas of seven more restaurants in Connaught Place. This comes after the council sealed off terraces in six restaurants last week taking the total number to 13.
The restaurant terraces were being illegally run, according to a senior New Delhi Municipal Council official. “The restaurants do not have licence to use the rooftop areas. We found the restaurants violating the norms during inspection and immediately sealed them off,” said a senior NDMC official.
The restaurants whose terrace areas were sealed off on June 25 are The Vault Cafe in F Block, Desi Vibes in N-Block, Barbeque Nation in N-Block, My Bar in N-Block, Cocoa By Belgique in N-Block, Ambrosia Bliss in L Block and Morrison in F Block.
In some restaurants, the open areas were being used exclusively as bars. Restaurants with rooftop areas are major attractions in CP where people come to mainly enjoy the view in the evenings.
“Some of the restaurants claimed that they have been running the rooftop areas for a number of years now. But they have not obtained permission from the NDMC on this issue. With cafes and bars being run on terraces, the facade of Connaught Place is changing. The restaurants have installed lights and fixtures which cannot be done without the permission of the council,” said the official.
The NDMC had recently sealed off terraces of Monkey Bar, Q’BA, Beer Cafe, Kitchen Bar, Kinbuck 2 and Warehouse Cafe.
Owners of these restaurants had claimed that the NDMC had arbirtarily sealed off the terrace without prior notice. However, the NDMC officials said the council is not supposed to give a notice in such cases.
The restaurants now have to seek permission of the council before it plans to operate from the terraces again. “The restaurants will need permission from the NDMC and the Excise Department before opening the rooftop areas.”
Abhishek Soni, manager, The Vault Cafe, said, “The terrace is temporaily stopped. We decided to close the terrace area after we learn the council was sealing off terraces. We will approach the council soon so that we can start the rooftop area soon.”
At Barbeque Nation and Ambrosia Bliss, senior staff members confirmed that the restaurants are currently functioning only from the inside sitting area.
“We stopped operating from the terrace area after the NDMC sealed it off. There was no prior order from the council,” said Eshan , manager, Cocoa By Belgique. The council is planning to intensify checks in other areas now.