Dining out in city set to get more expensive
Your meal in your favourite restaurant will soon cost you more. Restaurants across the city are set to hike their rates after the BMC rejected their plea to roll back the proposed hike in water charges.
Your meal in your favourite restaurant will soon cost you more. Restaurants across the city are set to hike their rates after the BMC rejected their plea to roll back the proposed hike in water charges.
The water tariffs have been raised by 60% — from Rs25 per 1,000 litres to Rs40. In the case of 3-star hotels and above, the hike is 59% — from Rs38 per 1,000 litres to Rs 60.
In a letter addressed to AHAR (Association of Hotels and Restaurants), Ramesh Bambale, BMC’s hydraulic engineer, defended the hike, saying: “The production cost of water has doubled during the last 10 years, from Rs 5.25 in 2002 to Rs 10.85 in 2012.”
“We will be forced to increase the rates,” said Shailesh Shetty, owner, Satkar Bar and Restaurant, Ghatkopar.
But AHAR struck a cautious note. “It is a very difficult decision. Currently the business is low and there is a danger that consumers will stay away if the rates are hiked. The final decision will be taken after feedback from our members,” said Sudhakar Shetty, president, AHAR.