Customer arrival up at restaurants

Harshraj Singh

Tribune News Service

Ludhiana, November 16

Though owners have welcomed the government decision on reducing GST rates from 18% to 5%, visitors to restaurants and hotels in the city have given a mixed response. The restaurant owners claimed to have witnessed a rise in the number of visitors today, Day 1 of implementation of the reduced GST rates.

A city-based traffic activist, Rahul Verma, said: “I purchased a meal from a restaurant at Sarabha Nagar and only 5% GST was charged. The food item, for which I used to pay Rs 118 inclusive of GST, now comes for Rs 105. I think the customers will avail themselves of this benefit.”

A few restaurants have reportedly increased the menu prices. Advocate Gaganpreet Singh said: “I visited an eatery on Ferozepur Road. The existing price list has been removed. It seems the eating joint has increased the prices of various meals. There should be some transparency in the system.”

A multinational food chain is offering ‘paneer tikka’ for Rs 160 now. On being asked, a staff member said: “Our system is updated from the US.”

The general secretary of the Hotels and Restaurants Association of Punjab, Amarvir Singh, said: “We are getting a good response from customers who are visiting in large numbers due to reduction in the GST rates.”

“If any restaurant is displaying prices in a wrong manner, the government should look into the matter. We welcome the government’s decision on reducing the GST on restaurant items,” he added.

A restaurant-cum-hotel owner, Raju Sharma, said: “Earlier, customers used to complain of high GST rates. As the rates have been reduced now, we expect more people will visit restaurants to enjoy delicious food.”