BENGALURU: A confluence of forces is coming together to make extended night life possible in the city, even if only until 1 am.
The city’s metro and bus services, police and the excise department have expressed their support for restaurants and bars to be open beyond the `Cinderella hour’ curfew in force on weekdays–a welcome beginning for a city aspiring to be an international destination.
Transport minister Ramalinga Reddy told ET that the Bangalore Metropolitan Transport Corporation is prepared to extend bus services till 2 am so that both diners and workers can reach home safe.
UA Vasanth Rao, general managerfinance, Namma Metro, said his office will decide on extending the metro rail service after “observing the footfall on these timings.”
Even before the Union cabinet approved the Model Shop and Establishment Act late June to allow restaurants, bars, cinemas and shopping malls to operate round the clock, the Bengaluru police sent a proposal to the state government declaring it was prepared to control law and order late nights on all days.
Now, bars and restaurants can be open until 1 am during weekends, a relaxation brought only two years ago after scrapping an 11pm deadline.
“The state government has already started considering this proposal,” city police commissioner NS Megharikh told ET. “There is no issue or security concerns here. We can handle it as we have already implemented the 1 am deadline on weekends.”
The excise department, too, has in formed the government that it has no objections to bars and restaurants being open till 1 am, excise commissioner SR Umashankar said. “We are yet to take a decision on the Model Shop and Establishment Act,” he said. “We have to support the people in the city . Bengaluru is going to become a metropolitan city , people work round the clock and facilities should be given to them.”
Subhash Chandra, additional chief secretary (home department), said the state government is in the final stages of approving extension of the deadline till 1 am on all days but has not taken any decision on the new Act.
Restaurateurs are, expectedly, thrilled.
“This is extremely wonderful news,” said Riyaaz Amlani, president of the National Restaurant Association of India and owner of Church Street Social. “I am really glad this is happening. This will go a long way in boosting the economy and employment in the city .”
