Closed rooftop restos ready to comply with SOP to reopen and catch Durga Puja crowd
Times of India | 28 August 2025
Kolkata: With less than a month to go for Mahalaya, restaurateurs with rooftop facilities hope to attract the festive crowd, provided the weather is favourable.
Sudesh Poddar, president of Hotel & Restaurant Association of Eastern India, called the rooftop SOP, announced by the expert committee on fire safety, comprising officers of KMC, fire and Kolkata Police, "perfectly timed".
Terrace restaurants, which have been shut since May after a spate of fire incidents, can reopen ahead of the busiest season if they comply with the guidelines. "The committee has taken a balanced and pragmatic approach on the SOP. This much-needed move will allow restaurants to open before Durga Puja. We welcome it wholeheartedly," said Poddar.
The SOP mentions that at least 50% of the rooftop area must be completely free, there should be two access routes to the open area, the rooftop establishment and all associated access points must be covered under CCTV cameras and that no fire is allowed on the terrace for cooking, though induction cooker can be used.
Anirban Sengupta, owner of Whatsup Cafe on Southern Avenue, one of the most popular rooftop joints until it was shut following the blanket ban by the govt in April, said they were anxiously waiting to read the SOP. "Let it reach us. Ours is entirely open to the sky. We have been closed since May 6. More than monetary loss, what hurts is what happened to employees. We retrenched them as we did not know about the outcome. We will comply with the SOP and hope to open by Durga Puja," Sengupta said, pointing out it would be an uphill task, given the time shortage.
"The good thing is we have two access points to the rooftop and do not have any live fire there."
Ramesh Kumar Agarwal, owner of Romaania, rooftop restaurant on JL Nehru Road, said the SOP appeared practical. "We will comply with it and reopen," he said.
Hashtag owner Ankit Tibrewal was more cautious and said he would be in a position to comment only when he gets the SOP. Asked if the rooftop had two access points and used live fire, he said they did have two access points but did not specify on live fire.
Shreevardhan Asopa of LMNOQ on Park Street, the first rooftop restaurant to be shut by KMC, which had also started demolishing the terrace structure, said they would take back their case from the HC against the 400(8) notice served by the civic body. "It was a difficult four-month period. We are happy KMC has come up with an SOP and a plan of action, lifting the blanket ban. We will value the SOP." Asked whether a month would be enough time to reopen for Durga Puja, Asopa said, "Yes and no, I have a lot of civil work left.
The entire industry was affected. It is the right time for the industry to tap into the season."
The HC on May 6 had directed KMC to reverify papers of the three rooftop restaurants, which moved court against the demolition order. Drunken Teddy, Romaania, and Scrapyard were barred from "any activities whatsoever at the disputed sites".