Why Is Delhi’s Open-Air Dining Scene Struggling Despite MCD Push?

Restaurants and cafés are now coming up with creative ideas to create spaces that feel intimate and peaceful. One such popular concept is open-air dining. This trend has grown in cities like Mumbai, Ahmedabad, and Bengaluru. However, in Delhi, the concept is struggling to survive.

Open-Air Dining Sees Drop In Delhi

To help restaurants and cafes use terraces and open space, the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) introduced its open-air dining policy. With this, they want to give a different setup from usual indoor dining. However, things didn’t go as expected.  According to Hindustan Times, at its peak, the policy licensed around 201 units in Delhi. But now, that number has dropped sharply to just 98, showing nearly a 50% decline in participation, according to senior civic officials.

The open-air dining policy was first started by South MCD’s public health department in 2020. Later, the unified MCD improved the policy and officially updated it on November 4, 2022. After intervention from Lieutenant Governor VK Saxena in 2022, the civic body again promoted it and issued around 200 licenses to boost participation.

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What’s Causing The Slowdown?

Not one, but according to officials, there are several reasons slowing down open-air dining growth in Delhi. One of the biggest challenges is the high licensing fee. Hindustan Times reported that restaurants have to pay ₹200 per square foot for most places, while premium four-star and above restaurants need to pay as much as ₹500 per square foot.

Industry groups, including Sandeep Anand Goyle, Delhi chapter head of the National Restaurant Association of India, also say the pricing was decided without enough discussion with the industry. 

Weather conditions are another big reason behind the slowdown. Delhi’s open-air dining struggles during extreme weather. Winters, especially from October to January, bring heavy pollution and cold winds.

Officials also say that even though the policy has relaxed some rules, like removing the need for a separate fire NOC for open spaces, operators still have to follow strict guidelines. These rules are: cooking is not allowed in these open areas, and restaurants must make sure they don’t disturb nearby residents. If alcohol is served, the space also needs to be properly covered.

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Cover Image Courtesy: Canva Pro/ Jafni Jofari (Representative Image)