Govt relaxes timing for bars, restaurants on Dec31

MUMBAI: The Maharashtra government has permitted bars and restaurants to remain open all through the night on December 31 for new year celebrations in Mumbai, Thane and Navi Mumbai but boat parties along the coast have been banned for the third time in a row due to the terror threat.

"The state excise department has allowed the bars and restaurants to remain open till 5 am on January 1, 2011. Usually, these establishments are shut by 1.30 hours but due to the New Year celebrations, the norms have been relaxed," Joint Police Commissioner (Law & Order) Rajnish Seth said.

"The boat parties along the coastline have been banned as a precautionary measure in the wake of intelligence inputs. Earlier also, for two years, the boat parties were not allowed due to the security reasons," Seth added.

The loudspeakers will be allowed to play till 12.00 AM in an open ground, instead of 10 PM deadline.

The hotels which conduct performances in their premises can also play loudspeakers till 12 AM, he added.

In the wake of intelligence inputs that four alleged members of Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashkar-e-Taiba (LeT) had sneaked into the city to carry out "violent" attacks, tight security will be maintained during the celebrations.

On December 23, Joint Police Commissioner (Crime) Himanshu Roy had said the four jihadis - Abdul Kareem Moosa, Noor Abu Ilahi, Walid Jinnah and Mahfooz Alam- had recently sneaked into the city to carry out dangerous activities.

Roy had released a sketch of Jinnah and issued an advisory to the citizens of the metropolis to remain alert.