Hotel body hails abolition of sign board licence norm in Maha

Restaurateurs today welcomed Maharashtra Government's decision of doing away with the need for retail establishments to obtain licence for advertising their own business at their operational premises.
The Government recently issued a circular in this regard.
The notification has also indicated retailers will no longer have to pay any fee for such advertisements, Hotel and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRAWI) said in a press release here.
In the circular, the Government has said sky signs are mainly set up for advertising, which is an integral component of every retail store's functioning, said HRAWI, which led the campaign for abolition of licence rule.

The circular said as long as the sky sign is fixed in and out of the self-owned, leased or mortgaged premise of the retail store, by the trader advertising his own business it shall not attract the requirement of permission of competent authority and payment of fees.
"The move comes on the back of Union Cabinet clearing the 'Model Shops and Establishments Bill', which essentially allows shops to remain open round the clock.
"Although, the State is yet to bring such a Bill, the abolishment of the sign board licence is an encouraging indication of the Government's efforts to improve ease of doing business," HRAWI President Bharat Malkani said.