Pune Restaurants Body Raises Concerns Over Random Raids, NRAI Seeks Government Intervention
Pune Restaurants Body Raises Concerns Over Random Raids, NRAI Seeks Government Intervention
Pune, September 25, 2025: The National Restaurant Association of India (NRAI) – Pune Chapter has appealed to the state government and civic authorities to safeguard the interests of Pune’s restaurant and hospitality industry while ensuring ease of doing business.Founded in 1982 and headquartered in Delhi, NRAI represents over 5,00,000 restaurants across India.
With an annual turnover of approximately ₹5.7 lakh crore, the industry is the third largest in the service sector after retail and insurance, providing direct employment to over 8 million Indians.NRAI Pune Chapter, through advocacy, training, skilling, research, and industry events, has been actively working with stakeholders for the growth of the hospitality industry in Maharashtra. The association emphasized that Pune’s Food & Beverage (F&B) sector contributes significantly not just to leisure, but also to the city’s economy, employment, and cultural vibrancy.Employment and Economic Contribution.
The hospitality sector accounts for nearly 10% of Pune’s total jobs. A single 50-seater restaurant can employ up to 50 people, including managers, servers, kitchen staff, housekeeping, and valet drivers. Thousands of indirect jobs are also created for delivery partners, suppliers, musicians, transporters, artisans, and event companies.
For many youth, the industry provides a first job that teaches essential life skills such as teamwork, discipline, and customer service.Currently, Pune’s F&B sector directly employs 2.5–3 lakh people across restaurants, cafés, bars, banquet halls, and delivery services, while indirectly supporting another 3 lakh jobs. In FY 2024–25 alone, the sector contributed ₹1,200–1,500 crore in revenues to state and local governments through GST, permits, liquor licenses, property, and municipal taxes.Cultural and Community Value
Restaurants, cafés, and bars serve as cultural spaces—hosting live music, showcasing art, and acting as community hubs. These venues reflect Pune’s youthful, cosmopolitan identity while offering spaces for families, students, and professionals to connect.Safety and Accountability
The organised sector, NRAI stressed, remains safer and more accountable than unregulated alternatives. Licensed outlets comply with fire safety norms, employ trained staff, and enforce age-verification.Concerns Over Random Raids
However, NRAI Pune Chapter has raised serious concerns over random raids being carried out at bar establishments, with directions to shut operations before permissible hours. More troubling, the association noted, is the presence of unauthorised individuals accompanying officials during such inspections.
These individuals allegedly demand explanations and attempt to force members to produce trade and licensing documents.The association clarified that while it fully cooperates with authorities, the involvement of unauthorised persons is “inappropriate and unacceptable.”Appeal for Government Intervention
NRAI urged the government to intervene and ensure that only authorised personnel conduct such visits. “At a time when the State Government is promoting ease of doing business and has assured that blackmail and extortion will not be tolerated, we humbly request your intervention,” the association stated.Concluding its appeal, NRAI reiterated that Pune’s growth depends not only on infrastructure but also on cultural spaces where people gather, share meals, and build memories. “A great city is built on both,” the statement read.The appeal was signed by Sagar Daryani, President, NRAI.
