The Maharashtra government on Wednesday approved the much-anticipated proposal to kickstart ‘Mumbai 24×7’ from the midnight of Jan.26-27, Cabinet ministers Anil Deshmukh and Aditya Thackeray announced here.
As declared earlier, this will not apply to bars, pubs, restaurants serving liquor, which will be permitted to serve alcoholic beverages only till the existing time limits of 1.30 am.
Addressing a joint press conference, the two ministers said that initially it will be implemented on experimental basis in designated malls, mills, multiplexes and other non-residential areas around the city in consultation with the Mumbai Police and BrihanMumbai Municipal Corporation.
“Those designated complexes which have sufficient parking, proper security measures, CCTVs, licenced establishments, and are situated away from residential localities will be permitted the option of 24×7 operations,” said Aditya Thackeray.
Deshmukh said that besides the mills and malls in south-central Mumbai, places like Bandra Kurla Complex and certain other locations in the maximum city will be included in the first phase.
“As it is Mumbaikars work practically round-the-clock… Then why should the city go under an ‘undeclared curfew’ after 10 pm daily… Until now, 24×7 was available only inside five-star hotels. But this scheme will be of immense benefit to the locals and also tourists,” said Aditya Thackeray.
He added that Mumbai has a huge service industry employing over half a million people which will get a chance to grow further with a potential to work in three shifts, besides augmenting government revenues.
However, the two ministers made it clear that this will be on a purely voluntary basis and the participating business establishments would reserve the option to keep their outlets open for 18 hours, 24 hours, on weekends or festivals, as per their requirements.
Aditya Thackeray pointed out that Mumbai is a safe city and women can freely move around at any hour without fear, and under the new scheme, people can step out to eat, watch movies, other forms of entertainment, etc. at any convenient time.
“Why can’t you watch a film after midnight, or go out after dark hours… This will also reduce the burden on the police who have to run after establishments which flout the rules rather than going after criminals,” he added.
To a question whether such a night-life would be extended to Pune, Aditya Thackeray shot back in a lighter vein: “First we have to implement ‘afternoon-life’there…”
Initially, Nariman Point, Kala Ghoda, Bandra Kurla Complex, Kamala Mills Compound, certain malls and multiplexes and shopping plazas in non-residential areas are expected to join the ‘new era’ in Mumbai nightlife.
While the Opposition Bharatiya Janata Party has slammed the move, hoteliers’ associations and other businesses have not only welcomed the decision but demanded that it should be implemented all over the Mumbai since is a city that never sleeps.-IANS news
