Regulations for cafés relaxed

A legal notice has amended regulations on the placing of tables and chairs in public open spaces, outside catering establishments and bars.

The environment and tourism ministries said that outdoor cafés help to regenerate urban centres.

The Development Notification Order, 2001, had laid down that tables and chairs may not be separated from the premises that they serve by a road used by vehicular traffic. But the amendment says the tables and chairs cannot be separated from their premises unless three conditions are satisfied: the volume of traffic has to be fewer than 60 vehicles an hour in both directions; the velocity of the traffic has to be restricted to a maximum of 20km an hour and there should be no parking along the length of the road, or other obstructions higher than 1.1 metres.