The BMC has proposed to a policy on allowing rooftop restaurants in th city. A 23-point policy will be tabled before members of improvement committee for their sanctions later this week.

According to the proposed policy, the corporation will provide access to terrace restaurants only to parties which own the entire structure/building, or are operating within it independently.

The civic body had decided to permit restaurants to only those hoteliers who are not left with floor space index (FSI), but have terrace space (not considered while calculating floor space).

A senior civic official informed: "The policy insists on ensuring safety measures by the hoteliers. Cooking food will not be allowed on terraces, and the terrace has to remain open. We will permit erecting sheets to cover terrace portion during monsoon, but in no way, can s/he construct or increase the height of defense walls on the terrace without the building proposal department's permission."

Amongst other conditions proposed in the policy include not constructing toilets, and a maximum of two wash basins. About this, the officer added: "The restaurants will be allowed to operate in the night until the stipulated time permitted by city police and BMC's shops and establishment wings."

The policy mandates hoteliers to seek due permission from Mumbai Heritage Conservation Committee (MHCC) if the structure falls under heritage grade I, II or III categories.

As reported in dna earlier, civic chief Sitaram Kunte had already given nod for the proposal. Meanwhile, the Shiv Sena, which is presiding over the BMC along with the BJP, has insisted the corporation to let restaurants operate for late hours in the night. "Hotels are being run abroad similarly. We think hotels must be allowed to run later in the night seeking due police permission," said Yashodhar Phanse, civic standing committee chairman and Shiv Sena corporator from Versova.