Mumbai’s 24x7 era begins from Friday night

MUMBAI: From Friday night, the city that never sleeps will officially remain open 24x7.

Seven years after it was first mooted by Shiv Sena leader and Maharashtra tourism minister Aaditya Thackeray, the state Cabinetledbyhisfatherandchief minister Uddhav Thackeray on Wednesdaygaveitsformalnodto ‘Mumbai 24 Hours’. This policy allows malls, shops, multiplexes andrestaurantsinspecificareas to function round-the-clock.

Five malls — Atria in Worli, Growel’s 101 in Kandivli, High Street Phoenix at Lower Parel, PhoenixMarketcityinKurlaand RCityinGhatkopar—haveintimated the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) that they will remain open 24x7 from Friday midnight, officials said.

Aadityamadeaformalpresentation to the state cabinet on Wednesday, endorsing the idea he had proposed to the BMC in 2013.Later,hetoldthemediathat the proposal was unanimously approvedbyallministers. Establishments — shops, restaurants and multiplexes in gated areas (shopping malls and shopping complexes), defuncttextilemills and non-residential areas (Bandra-Kurla Complex and Ballard

Estate)—willbeallowedtooperateround-the-clock.Thegovernmenthasalsoidentifiedtwolanes attheNationalCentreforthePerforming Arts (NCPA), Nariman Point, and the BKC, where food trucks will be allowed to operate atnight.Meanwhile,Aadityasaid stateexciseruleswillcontinueto apply.Establishmentsthatserve liquor are allowed to operate till 1.30am in Mumbai.