The general body of the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation has given its assent to Aditya Thackeray’s ambitious proposal to put Mumbai’s once-fabled nightlife back on trackOn Saturday, amid a fight with the opposition parties over discussing the nightlife proposal or the Dockyard Road building crash, the general body gave an in principle clearance to keeping restaurants and certain shops open through the night.The proposal will now be forwarded by the municipal commissioner Sitaram Kunte to the state government where it will be debated, chiefly by the department for Urban Development, the labour ministry and the home ministry.This newspaper has learnt that keeping the elections and the youth vote in mind, the government is inclined to review this proposal favourably. A senior UD officer who spoke on the condition that he not be named, said: “It’s good to have restaurants and some shops open through the night. I have seen the same in the US and in Japan. We will perhaps start with a select few establishments and then extend it to others.”Labour minister Hasan Mushrif, a crucial party in this proposal, too seemed favourably inclined. “We can give permissions, provided the owners assure us that the workers in these establishments will not be exploited. They will have to appoint workers in two shifts’’“It’s a move that will help generate employment and will give the hospitality industry a shot in the arm,” said restaurateur Viraf Patel. A senior municipal officer estimates that proposal to come to fruition in roughly three months’ time. Recently, the Indian Merchants Chamber too had requested the BMC and the Chief Minister to allow a Dubai-style festival wherein shops could be allowed to remain open till late.Cultural theorist Shanta Gokhale said, “I don’t know what the BMC’s aim behind this proposal is, but as far as I can see, it’s a good idea for citizens as well as tourists. This is a city that works 24x7. Restaurants that will remain open all night will cater to those people working at odd hours. Now, if you go out at night, you will find fruit carts that serve these people.Besides, a move like this, gives the city a certain zing. It is also a way of making Mumbai safe because it means that many more people out on the road.” Aditya Thackeray, leader of the Yuva Sena, who had sought support for the idea of Mumbai 24x7 with a tweet on September 13 (“Our aim is to have eateries, milk vending shops and chemists open 24/7 in non residential areas, and residential areas by permission of ppl. As a city, we need to have a bustling yet safe nightlife.Both, in the hands of the people. This will also roll in more economy, legally”) before bringing pressure on his party’s corporators to toe the line, was understandably delighted. “I am indeed very happy that the house has passed something that Mumbaikars wanted and needed. I will soon be meeting the mayor and asking him to call a joint meeting of civic and government officers to expedite the matter. If possible, I will ask an MLA to table a private members bill in the legislature. We will also write to all MLAs and ask them to then support it.’’s