After MLAs' nudge, CM to review Bangalore's nightlife curfew
Here is some hope for nightlife in this once-hopping IT city. All the ministers representing Bangalore are batting for an extension of the 11.30 pm deadline. And Chief Minister Siddaramiah has said he would consider it.
Home Minister K J George, Food and Civil Supplies Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao, Agriculture Minister Krishna Byre Gowda and Bangalore Urban in-charge Minister Ramalinga Reddy are all for an extension of the Cinderella Hour for restaurants and other essential services in the city. Liquor outlets, though, might have to close early due to policing concerns.
The matter spilled over at the sidelines of a BMTC bus service launch at Vidhana Soudha on Monday. Siddaramaiah initially brushed off the question on extending the deadlines for the city with: “There are no proposals for this.” However, when George, Rao and Shivajinagar MLA R Roshan Baig, who were at the event, pressed for it, the CM said: “If it is true that many people are being inconvenienced because of the deadline, we will consider options.”
‘“Many people work beyond the deadline and are inconvenienced because most essential services like pharmacies and restaurants are closed,” George contended.
“Bangalore definitely requires extension of the deadline,” Rao told Express.
“It is a cosmopolitan city and people from all over the country reside here. They lead busy lives and it is important to provide them with places of entertainment — restaurants especially. Most major cities in the world and even in India have a night life. As long as law and order is respected, it should be introduced,’’ he said.
Reddy wants the deadline extended at least in the core areas. “The core area of the city has most of the bus stands, railway stations and hospitals. If the deadline is extended, it will be convenient for people — especially near bus stands, railway stations and near the airport. But we have to be alert to the cons as well. If we extend the timings for restaurants, theatres will want an extension, and we will have to extend timings of the public transport. The police will have to be alert. All these have to be examined,” he said.
“Personally, I am in favour of extending the deadline, as the arguments in favour of the deadline do not convince me,” said Gowda. “I find no correlation between late deadline or crime.I don’t think the early deadline is serving any purpose.”
Chandrashekhar Hebbar, president of the Bruhat Bengaluru Hoteliers Association, couldn’t agree more. “We sent a memorandum to the Home Department to extend the deadlines. Particularly those with IT/BT jobs often go hungry or don’t have a proper meal, because of this early deadline.’’ Late night food deliverers in the city point out that there is a definite demand for food outlets. Nayaz Pasha who founded Biriyani Night Out said he has a client base of over 5,000 customers since it started in January. “In nine months, I have increased my staff from just three people to nine. The promotion for my business has been through Facebook and at college events,” he said.