To boost city nightlife,Thackeray Jr. pushes for 24×7 eateries

“I strongly believe Mumbai needs a safe and yet vibrant night life. Our city virtually sleeps after midnight while people look for some chilling time post work. New York,London and even areas in our very own Indore are open 24 hours. Why not our lovely Mumbai? Do share this if you like this idea,” reads the FB post. It has so far has received 667 ‘likes’ and 205 ‘shares’.

Thackeray’s proposal does not include clubs and bars. “I had been working on this idea and had asked Narvekar to draft it and take it forward in the BMC for discussion. Similarly,I have also asked corporators in Thane and a few other cities in Maharashtra to raise the issue in their respective civic bodies. This is a concept that needs to take root in Mumbai as citizens who work late are forced to visit bars for food after midnight,” said Thackeray.

In addition to amending the Bombay Shops and Establishment Act,1948,the proposal also suggests amendments to the Bombay Police Act,1951.

“With Mumbai grooming itself as an international city,it is no longer a luxury but a necessity that we have round-the-clock restaurants. We have international flights landing in the city at odd times and law and media offices finish work well after midnight,” said Narvekar.

If approved by the BMC,the proposal will be forwarded to the state’s urban development

department.

“Mumbai is largely a safe city. In a move to curb terror,citizens’ freedom should not be curbed. The same goes for our proposal to introduce Wi-Fi throughout the city. Such things are facets of a well-developed city and cannot be denied to Mumbaikars on the pretext of security threats. We are having meetings with other political parties to bring them on board. I will also write to the Chief Minister,asking him to carry out the necessary amendments,” Thackeray said.

Arvind Gosavi,chief inspector,shops and establishments department of BMC,said amendments to a specific section would call for extensive revisions of the Act as a whole.

“In addition to amending the section on timings for various establishments,vast portions of the Act would have to be reworked to make this a viable law. We will have to analyse work shifts for employees to ensure there is no exploitation of labour and also mandate a certain level of remuneration for night-shifts,” Gosavi said.

“Five and four-star hotels are allowed to have 24-hour cafes and restaurants because they also function as lodging and boarding centres. For them,business is not restricted to food and drinks alone,so it is also financially viable,smaller establishments may not be able to cope,” he added.

Thackeray said he has been busy preparing the ground to push the proposal across ranks and departments. “It is a detailed proposal that understands the challenges. It is optional and owners of establishments must only take it up if they can economically sustain it. It also mandates two work shifts for night and day,compulsory segregation of garbage and in residential areas,70 per cent approval from residents is necessary for granting licence to establishment,” he said.

Emphasising that the proposal does not expand to include clubs and bars in the city,Thackeray said: “Imagine how well-received a 24×7 Bachelors,Starbucks or local vada pav shop will be if Mumbaikars are given the option to move around after midnight. It would boost the economy and subsequently government support functions will respond to positive demand.”

Aaditya’s wish,mayor’s command

On Sunday,Aaditya Thackeray tweeted,apparently claiming credit for getting the Mayor to approve and allow the organisers to host Sunburn fest,Hardwell,at Mahalakshmi Racecourse. The tweet read: “After being approached by the organizers n (and) a lot of youngsters,I asked the mayor to intervene,penalise heavily the event group bt (but) allow it.”

Following Thackeray’s request,the concert organisers were fined,but were allowed to proceed with the event. Thackeray went on to tweet that concerts make Mumbai a ‘vibrant’ place and should happen more often. He praised the Mayor for his decision and mentioned in one of his tweets that he only decided to ‘intervene’ because several music lovers had spent “their savings on such concerts for the artistes they love.” ENS