MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government is working on a plan to reopen hotels and restaurants in the state very soon, said Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray on Sunday. Representatives of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India told ET that they might be able to start within the next two weeks.

The CM was addressing the association members through a video conference when he made these remarks. “We are working on the norms and modalities under which the hotels and restaurants will function. Once these are finalised, we will allow them to function under ‘Mission Begin Again’.”

The CM said that those running hotels and lodges have to be doubly careful during the times of Covid as even one sick person could infect all the employees of a hotel. Giving examples of how the state government took adequate precautions before allowing businesses to start, Uddhav mentioned how saloons were allowed to start but only for cutting hair and as part pf extra precaution gyms were yet to be given permission to reopen.

The CM told the hoteliers the government is taking time on the SOP as it doesn’t want a situation where the government allows them first and then has to revoke permission.

Gurbaxish Singh Kohli, vice president of the Federation of Hotel and Restaurant Associations of India, told ET that he got a sense from the meeting that their business would be allowed to reopen soon. “The Chief Minister told us that the SOP is ready and will be shared with us immediately for our views and suggestions. So, if you ask me, then there could be some good news on hotels and restaurants reopening within the next two weeks,” said Kohli to ET.

He said that the members have also asked the government not to follow the norms issued by the Delhi government as that would not be helpful.