Sondhi is city head of Restaurant Assn

Tribune News Service

Chandigarh, June 9

The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) has appointed restaurateur Sunveer Sondhi as the head of its Chandigarh Chapter.

Sondhi said: “It is my honour to take up the responsibility as the head of the NRAI, Chandigarh Chapter. The restaurant industry of the tricity has been the worst hit due to the Covid-19 pandemic. So, my first priority will be to raise the industry’s concerns with the respective government departments of the UT Administration and try to seek breathers required by the industry.”

“In the tricity and North India, the industry needs to be rejuvenated quickly as several small and midsize restaurants may not be even in a position to reopen due to the financial stress these have been subjected to due to the lockdown. Apart from snatching the livelihood of many, the lockdown has created existential problems for owners too,” he said.

Restaurants have been allowed to reopen following SOPs under Unlock 1. However, several issues such as demand for rent by landlords even during the lockdown needs to be addressed. It is unlikely that restaurants will be able to make money under the present situation as operating timings and 50 per cent capacity rule are major stumbling blocks.