Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta on Monday stated that removing the requirement of police-issued licenses or NOCs for seven business categories will not only bring relief to millions of people and their families but Delhi Police will now be able to focus more on the capital’s law and order.
CM Rekha Gupta described this decision as ‘major decision’ and both important and historic for the people of Delhi. For more than forty years, individuals wishing to operate hotels, restaurants, guest houses, auditoriums, swimming pools, or entertainment venues in Delhi were required to obtain two separate licenses — one from the municipal body and another from the Delhi Police.
This duplication has now been eliminated. Going forward, only one license from the local body will be required; no NOC from the police will be necessary, she said.
As per the CM, nearly 25,000 establishments and around 1.5 to 2 million workers directly employed in these sectors will benefit from this reform. Additionally, many indirect businesses and vendors associated with these industries and their families will also gain significant relief. This long-standing demand of traders, entrepreneurs, and the general public has now been fulfilled, offering benefits across the board.
The Chief Minister said that the LG accepted the Delhi government’s request and removed the requirement for police licensing in the following seven sectors: hotels, motels, guest houses, restaurants (eating houses), swimming pools, auditoriums, video game parlours, discotheques, and amusement parks.
Business owners will no longer need to obtain licenses from multiple departments for the same establishment. The process will now be more streamlined, cost-effective, and time-saving. This step will boost Ease of Doing Business, supporting start-ups, hotels, and the tourism industry.
She emphasized that the Delhi Police can now focus entirely on public safety and law enforcement.
With the introduction of a single-window system, the entire process will become more transparent and accountable.
The CM affirmed that this move represents a significant contribution toward building a committed, transparent, and citizen-centric administrative framework in Delhi.
The CM further stated that simplifying the licensing process and supporting both citizens and entrepreneurs is a top priority of Delhi’s “double-engine government.” This decision reflects the government’s progressive and constructive administrative approach.
It marks a major step toward administrative reform and is a reflection of the policies and vision of the Central Government.
The licensing process will now be simple, transparent, and fully digital, ensuring that neither citizens nor business owners face any unnecessary difficulties. She concluded by stating that the government will transform this change into a tool for public welfare and will work to establish Delhi as the most capable, beautiful, and well-governed capital city in the country.
The Chief Minister further suggested implementing a single-window system to tackle corruption within the licensing process. This aims to improve transparency and ensure timely license issuance for businesses and individuals.
