High time

BANGALORE: Pop the champagne and get ready to do the tango! Bangalore may soon be joining the party capitals of the world. Nearly 4 lakh and more young people, high disposable income, some of best party places in the country and an 11:30 pm deadline. Cruel fate? Well, this may soon be a scenario from the past. Chief minister H D Kumaraswamy plans to reconsider the deadline that has in the past played spoilsport to many parties in the city.

And a mention of an extension of the 11:30 pm deadline and Bangaloreans are all smiles. “Bangalore being a cosmopolitan city, there should be no deadlines. We are hoping that pubs and lounge bars will be open overnight so that we can enjoy ourselves at least 3-4 hours after work,” says Rohit Arora, an employee with Infosys BPO.

In fact, it’s a move that is sure to get more business and moolah to nearly 250 pubs and over 1,000 restaurants and lounge bars in the city. “Our business will improve by nearly 20-25% if the deadline is extended or removed,” says Kamal Dasgupta, assistant F&B manager, Ebony, one of Bangalore’s leading restaurant and lounge bars.

“Bangaloreans are eagerly awaiting an extension in the deadline. Our footfall is bound to increase if a decision on the extension comes through,” says Rasi, manager of Bangalore’s popular pub, Tavern Inn.

However, the people likely to resent such a move are the men in uniform. But N Aachuta Rao, Commissioner of Police, Bangalore City, seems unfazed about the challenges an extension could bring, “We will follow the government’s directive, after all it is the government that decided on the extension.”

On the flip side, safety and security concerns are unlikely to be such a cakewalk. Post the introduction of the deadline in 2003, accidents in the city have come down by nearly 30%, but M A Saleem, DCP (East) Traffic, says: “We have nearly 100 alcometres and are all set to meet the safety needs of the city. The government has also recently sanctioned additional manpower. Therefore, I do not see any problem if the deadline is done away with.”

However, some Bangaloreans still prefer the clock to strike 11:30! “I would prefer Bangalore be known more for its safety than what it scores in the party circles,” says Nandita Gurjar, VP & Head HR, Infosys BPO. While concerns on safety still persist, Bangalore is gearing up for more action.

Incidentally, Mumbai, Gurgaon and Delhi already have late deadlines for their restaurants and pubs. And now the IT capital, too, gets set to rock and roll. ’Where’s the party tonight,’ is what the techies are asking.