Must have option to shop, dine after working till late: Aaditya
Day after BJP’S criticism, state tourism minister justifies approval for 24x7 proposal
MUMBAI: Justifying the government’s move to permit commercial establishments to operate 24x7, Maharashtra tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday said a city like Mumbai needs to keep shops and restaurants open throughout the night, as most citizens work till late and cannot go out with friends and families after their office hours, because establishments close early.
“Mumbaiites, mostly the youth, work till late. When they plan to go out with their friends or family post-work hours, the shops and restaurants close for the day. With the 24x7 plan, we want to provide citizens with the option to shop or dine at restaurants late at night,” he said. Thackeray’s statement comes a day after Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Ashish Shelar, criticising the state, said the government wants to facilitate the sale of liquor throughout the night.
Thackeray clarified that the decision to operate 24x7 will not be applicable on the sale of liquor. “The existing excise law [that governs the sale of liquor] won’t be tinkered with while allowing shops and restaurants to remain open around the clock,” the minister said.
Thackeray has been pushing for the 24x7 nightlife concept in Mumbai for the past few years. On Thursday, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and Mumbai Police, in a meeting headed by Thackeray, decided to permit establishments which fall under “gated communities”, and non-residential areas, to remain open 24x7 from January 26, provided the owners of the commercial establishments fulfil the necessary conditions. The proposal was first mooted in 2005 by the then labour minister, Nawab Malik, and again raised by Shiv Sena in 2013. Two years ago, the state had issued a notification to amend the law to allow commercial establishments that do not serve alcohol to operate all night. However, the plan was put on the backburner, owing to security concerns raised by the police, following which the matter was sent to the state home ministry.