Opening a restaurant or eatery in the national capital just got easier. Entrepreneurs or those who wish to renew health trade licences will now have to furnish all documents at a single window to be able to open their businesses.

Some new details — Food Safety and Standards Authority of India registration, details of pest control measures taken and medical certificates for all cooks and waiters employed — would need to be furnished. This is just in case they are suffering from contagious diseases and do not end up infecting customers.

Officials said this is the first time that such documents have to be submitted in order to get a health trade licence.

A new common application form has been developed for hospitality entrepreneurs in Delhi as proposed by the Union home ministry to emphasise on public health, structural safety of outlets and security of customers.

The 24-page form that will be uploaded on the National Informatics Centre (NIC) website by May-end and has been “finalised by all stakeholders”, said a senior municipal corporation official.

The MHA had been holding meetings with stakeholders — New Delhi Municipal Council; the municipal corporations of east, north and south Delhi; Delhi Fire Services, Delhi Police and the Delhi Pollution Control Committee — since March to prepare the common application form.

“The MHA was keen on building a single-window clearance system for businessmen seeking to open eateries, guest houses, banquet hall and hotels in Delhi. Currently, applicants have to approach all authorities for various clearances and the crucial health trade licence. Also, previously one did not have to submit papers like medical certificate of employees or FSSAI certificate,” the official said.

“This common form will not just enable entrepreneurs to upload all requisite documents on one platform, but also help agencies view their documents at one go, including remarks made by each department and the expiry dates of the certificates given,” he added.

Earlier, the municipalities asked for only four documents — proof of legal occupancy, ID of the owner, PAN card and building site plan. But now, the form asks for even the height of the building, number of floors on which the establishment is spread, lifts, number of escape routes/staircases/corridors and their width. “Minute details will be looked into now,” another official said.

From a security perspective, one will now have to submit details of parking space available, number of security guards employed, proof of CCTV cameras installed and the police clearance of all employees.

Further, to prevent pollution and accidents, one will also have to mention details such as if the establishment is connected to a sewer and organic waste converter.

“The verification will happen in 60 days,” the official said.

Restaurateurs in the city said they are happy the multiple agencies have been brought on one platform as concerns health trade licenses, and also furnishing any extra details asked for.

“However, while asking for structural safety details such as staircase width, they must keep in mind the ground realities of old establishments and be practical with their regulations,” said Anshu Tandon, President, Khan Market Welfare Association.

First Published: May 10, 2019 01:54 IST