Delhi restrictions to affect cinemas, restaurants, retail businesses

The fresh order has asked cinemas to stop and impose restrictions on timings of malls, markets and restaurants, which stakeholders said would severely impact business.

Kamal Gyanchandani, President, Multiplex Association of India said, “The Delhi government’s decision to shut down theaters in Delhi has created enormous uncertainty and may cause irreparable damage to the Indian film industry.”

Movie theaters, especially in North India, were starting to show signs of recovery with the release of big-ticket Hindi films. Along with Delhi, Maharashtra, Hindi contributes around 60% at the box office. This is the reason why the Shahid Kapoor-starrer jersey The film, which was scheduled to release on December 31, has been postponed.

“After being allowed to reopen, cinemas have already demonstrated their ability to operate safely through the use of improved ventilation systems, increased sanitation and other safety protocols for the public and staff. Not a single outbreak of COVID-19 has been detected in cinemas anywhere in the world,” Gyanchandani said. He urged the government to consider introducing the “double vaccination requirement” to enter cinema halls, as That happens in some other states, including Maharashtra. Alternatively, the 50% seating capacity limit could be reimposed, he said.

Filmmaker, trade and exhibition expert Girish Johar termed it as a major setback for the Hindi film market, saying that if fears and restrictions continue, other films may follow. jersey In pushing release dates. Prashant KulkarniCarnival Cinemas’ senior vice president, sales, marketing and strategic alliances, said it was a passing phase, but was bad for business and consumer sentiment because films like sooryavanshi And no way home Helped to restart recovery.

Meanwhile, restaurants will have to operate at 50% capacity from 8 am to 10 pm, while allowing restaurants to remain open. The order said that shops dealing with non-essential goods and services in markets and malls will be allowed to open between 10 am and 8 pm as per the odd-even formula.

“18 months have been tough for the restaurant. In this current quarter, the restaurant industry was witnessing green shoots and recovery was taking place. Now reducing the 50% occupancy cap and timings to 10 pm is a double blow,” says Kabir Suri, President, National Restaurant Association of India. “While 50% occupancy could have stayed, the timings should have actually been increased, so that you can Give room to visiting customers. We are already seeing massive cancellations. It is detrimental to business,” he said.

Priyank Sukhija, CEO of First Fiddle Restaurants, which runs Lord of the Drinks, Dragonfly Experience, Diablo and Plum by Bent Chairs across India, including Delhi, complained that while restaurants shut down till 10 pm, other businesses were also forced to operate as normal. hours allowed. Although on odd and even basis

Gurmehar Sethi, co-founder of Clap and Thai food restaurant Ziu, said that for the restaurant to close by 11 pm, they have to start closing between 9-10 pm so that their employees can reach home. There is also no clarity on whether they will be able to deliver food or will they need a pass for it.

Meanwhile, Yogeshwar Sharma, Executive Director and CEO, Select Infrastructure Pvt Ltd, expects the winter sales to be hit hard by the new restrictions. “Business could drop by at least 50% in late December and early January, especially for high-ticket winter clothing,” he said.

Industry body Retailers Association of India (RAI) CEO Kumar Rajagopalan said efforts are needed to practice social distancing, masking and even study hospitalization rates before taking such measures.

“I think Delhi’s restrictions have come too quickly. They should have been more careful about ensuring people were double-vaccinated and well-masked, rather than shutting down businesses immediately. This is going to have a huge impact on reach, economy and profitability.”

According to the All India Retail Trade Survey of the Retailers Association of India, retail sales in the month of November grew by 9% in November 2019 or the pre-covid period. According to the survey findings released on December 20, the consumer durables and electronics segment was followed by sports goods and footwear in the recovery.

“It is a nightmare that has returned. We hope that other states will not do this kind of overnight shutdown and give time to retailers and consumers to plan,” Rajagopalan said.