Top officials have given nod for extending deadline for bars and pubs, only notification is awaited

The city may finally be on its way to getting a vibrant night life.

The decks are being cleared for extending the deadline for bars and pubs till 1 a.m. on all days of the week. Both the home and excise departments have cleared the proposal.

Sources said that the order for the same is expected to be issued this week.

Since March 2014, the deadline for bars and eateries has been 11.30 p.m. on weekdays and 1 a.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Cops had opposed extending the deadline to 1 a.m. throughout the week, but the scenario has changed over the last two years.

Police Commissioner N.S. Megharik, who recently extended the deadline for eateries to 1 a.m. through the week, said that he had cleared the proposal for extension of deadline for bars and restaurants too. “Once we allow eateries to be open till 1 a.m., it makes little difference for us. In fact, it will be difficult for cops on the ground to differentiate between bar and restaurants and eateries,” he said.

Excise Commissioner S. R. Umashankar told The Hindu, “After the city police commissioner assured of adequate security, I have recommended to the government to extend the deadline till 1 a.m. on all days. The government is expected to take a call on the issue soon.”

However, the pub owners are cautious. “We want to wait for the government order before rejoicing. We welcome the fact that the government finally thinks of us as a mature society, which can handle a late night deadline for bars,” said Ashish Kothare, President of Association of Bar and Restaurant, Pub and Hotels, Bengaluru.

But how will you go home?

A vibrant night life means not just bars and pubs being open till 1 a.m., but also reliable public transport, say citizens.

Lack of public transport after 11 p.m. will only leave party-goers and commuters at the mercy of cab aggregators or increase the risk of drunk driving, said a senior official.

Despite the deadline for liquor outlets being extended till 1 am during weekends since March 2014, not all outlets had extended working hours.

“In certain areas, like Indiranagar and the Central Business District, customers queue up even late in the night. But that is not the case in other areas. One of the significant reasons is the lack of a vibrant public transport system at night. Sometimes even cabs are not available,” said the owner of an eatery in Rajajinagar.