The recent crackdown by the authorities on joints operating till late at night in Mumbai, seems to be affecting the city’s often-mentioned nightlife.The recently revised deadline for bars and restaurants is 12.30 am,while the time limit for pubs and nightclubs is 1.30 am. “Only those who have obtained special permission from the police, can continue up to the time limit they have been granted,” said V.P. Gosavi, chief inspector, shops and establishment department.
On Saturday, actor Salman Khan expressed his disappointment on the microblogging website Twitter about joints in Bandra shutting shop by
12. “Went for dinner at 12 and most of the places in Bandra were shut and night clubs shut at 12:30. Bandra used to b so much fun. We are
done with work by 10, reach home at 11, work out and after that if we want to chill, every thing is shut,” the actor tweeted.
Khan went on to write that even the Haji Ali Juice Center, where he remembers eating at 5 am, shuts by midnight now. “So sad for the
youth..,” Khan tweeted.
Rajiv Tandon, owner of popular night club Tryst, admitted that the city’s nightlife is almost next to nil. “There are people who reach
home from work after 9.30 pm…by the time they freshen up, leave and reach night clubs, it’s nearly closing time,” he said
Anuja Jatkar, owner of Malt and Pepper, Fort, added, “The government needs to understand that keeping bars open till late has absolutely no
negative effect.”
The police on its part maintains that keeping the streets clear at night helps keep criminal elements off the streets.