Why cannot Silicon City be like Delhi?

RESTAURANT TIMINGS
Why cannot Silicon City be like Delhi?
TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES

Bangalore/ New Delhi: Bangalore may have gone the Delhi way in many areas. But it is highly unlikely that the Silicon City will follow the country’s capital on closure timings of bars and restaurants. Now, restaurants and eateries can remain open up to 1 am.
While Delhiites will be able to eat out well past midnight, Bangaloreans still have to bolt down their food by 11.30 pm. The decision of the Delhi police has come concurrent with the new bar timings, which was taken some time ago.
“The new closure timings for restaurants in Delhi which have
been issued registration certificates by the licensing branch has been extended to 1 am,’’ Delhi DCP (licensing) Arun Kampani, said.
Till now, the restaurants were to shut shop at 12 midnight.
However, for restaurants located in star hotels, permission to operate on round-the-clock basis would be decided on a case-to-case basis, keeping in view the timings allowed for that particular place by the excise department, he explained.
“Any establishment flouting the newly notified timings would be prosecuted by the local police and a permanent closure orders would be obtained from the concerned court,” Kampani said.
In Bangalore, the tourism department had put forth a demand before the state government, requesting the extension of closure timings in five-star hotels. Even as the demand under consideration, both the police and excise departments are against any relaxation.
“The department is hardpressed in the city. Some police stations have to have at least 12 beats in a day. Which means that 24 officials need to be patrolling. They sometimes literally close each and every bar and restaurant,’’ a police official said.
Extension of the closure timing of bars mean extension of duty for police.
“There will be the same number of subsidiary business counters, like petty shops, functioning along with bar and restaurants. Apart from keeping a vigil at pubs and restaurants, we have to patrol on the deserted roads like Ring Roads as well,” Bangalore DCP Central B N S Reddy said.
Meanwhile, the excise department circular along with each licence clearly states that all bars and restaurants should be closed before 11.30 pm.
“The demand for extension of closure timings of bars in five-star hotels is very peculiar. When international flights arrive at the airport late at night, why should the bars be opened till then? The present timing is appropriate in view of maintenance of law and order,’’ an excise official said.