You have proposed the idea of nightlife in Mumbai by keeping eateries and medical shops open through the night. What’s the deal? A city like Mumbai deserves to have some nightlife. I have floated an idea and asked Makrand Narvekar (independent municipal corporator backed by the Shiv Sena) to table this proposal in the BMC (Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation) to let all eateries, milk shops and chemists to remain open 24 hours. We need to give these amenities to Mumbaikars and people who visit our city. With more people going to these legal eateries, some looking for a place to eat late in the night, and others wanting to chill out, they will flock to legal areas with more crowds that would be better and safe. The ‘24-hour open’ policy will boost business for owners and benefit tourists too. The proposal would require legal amendments even after it is cleared by the BMC. How will you manage this? We will call on the Maharashtra governor and the chief minister soon in this respect. I hope the government amends the Bombay Police Act and the Shops and Establishments Act for the purpose. And what about the practicalities of implementing this proposal? Yes, I have thought about that. In non-residential zones businesses would require permission from the BMC and the police. In residential zones they will require the consent of a majority of the residents within a radius of 1 km. The responsibility of garbage collection, keeping the noise down and traffic discipline will rest with the owner of the establishment. They will also require to put two shifts in place to avoid exploitation of labour.

What about security? Mumbai is largely a safe city as compared with other cities. Security is an easy excuse to curb liberties, but no city in the world uses it. New York runs 24 hours even after the 9/11 terror attack. They curbed terror, not people. Are you proposing there could be reserve areas instead of the entire city staying open through the night, so it is more manageable? There is nothing to manage in a commercial activity. Let the eateries, milk shops, chemists run as they are. For their own business they will ensure that the working is smooth. As I said, in residential areas let the residents decide.

But how will this work? Nightlife would require more cops on the streets. Are we prepared for that? I have full faith in Mumbaikars and that by and large nothing untoward will happen. Additional police patrolling would not be required, as I believe that the cops are anyway on patrol through the night. In fact, if anything, peak hour traffic may ease a little. Nightlife would also require transport facilities, cabbies who are ready to ply (given the problem of some who turn down travellers), public buses will have to operate with regular frequency and security escort? There has to be little governmental interference in such activities. Once every ancillary industry realises that there is a commercial gain, they will begin to support it, whether it is transport or whatever.

A problem in nightlife is alcohol. Will liquor shops remain open too? No. I haven’t mentioned nightclubs in the proposal. However, that doesn’t stop people from drinking. Drunk drivers are caught during the day and social drinkers can be sober at night too. All we need to do is to give the city some breathing space, not teach it how to do this.