City welcomes extended hotel hours

City welcomes extended hotel hours
DH News Service,Bangalore:
Wednesday, May 20, 2009, 12:00 [IST]

The extension of working hours for hotels and restaurants in the City has been welcomed by Bangaloreans, who feel this would give the City’s night life a boost.
Rajeev, manager of Ruby Tuesday on Church Street felt this move would boost the restaurant’s business since there were many customers who entered his outlet from 9.30 pm to 10 pm. Foreign customers were not at all at ease with the current timings, as back home they had no such time limits.
Maria Jacintha, a marketing assistant said this would do more good for people working in night shifts. It would also give them more time to party and have get-togethers.
However, Olivia, a tourist from Meghalaya, is against youngsters misusing the extension in hotel hours for unethical activities. She feels it is good for outsiders like her to expect a few restaurants to be open till 12 midnight, but beyond that it could get a bit dangerous.
Alamelu Subramaniam, an insurance firm employee, is happy about the new deadline, but she too is afraid that things might just get risky if hotels stay open beyond midnight.
She is convinced that late night movie watchers would definitely benefit from the new deadline. As for the unethical activities that might take place, she wants the regulatory authorities to take care of the safety of the people.

Police permission

Permission from the City Police Commissioner will be required to run hotels and restaurants till 12 midnight. Meanwhile, the proposed timings don’t seem to have gone well with the police department.
When asked, the top police brass declined to comment saying it was just their duty to implement the new rule. A few officers expressed fears that crimes like robbery, theft and chain snatching may increase. It would be easy for miscreants to commit such crimes as they can easily target victims.
The new rule will also put a lot of pressure on police as they need to intensify night patrolling. Increase in the number of accidents also cannot be ruled out. The new rule of change in schedule may not of great help to the film industry, they felt.

Welcome decision

The Bangalore Hotels Association President Vasudev Adiga said, “The move will definitely help the hoteliers and restaurants to do better business, specially fine dining restaurants in the city,” he said.
Adiga said, with Bangalore becoming an international destination it is a good prospect for the future. “The move will also help people working in the night shift,” he added.
However, Adiga appealed to the Bangalore police to ensure that the misuse of power by their personnel does not take place. “We have been facing troubles with police personnel asking us to shut down at sharp 11.30 pm earlier. Now they may come in at sharp 12 am. Unlike in other businesses, we cannot ask our customers to leave at sharp 12 am. This needs to be addressed,” he said.