New Year gift: Party till 1 am for a week

BENGALURU: As a New Year’s gift, the city’s residents can hope to party till 1 am for an entire week till 2015 draws to a close. For the first time since deadlines were imposed on Bengaluru’s nightlife, the city police commissioner has allowed restaurants and pubs to function till 1 am, from December 24 to January 1. 

 

“We decided to extend the deadline for an entire week considering that this is also a tourist season and a large number of people will be coming to Bengaluru during the festive season. We have observed that by about 12.30 am to 1 am, most people decide to call it a night and hence have fixed the deadline at 1 am,” said N.S. Megharikh, Police Commissioner.  

 

According to the order issued by the city’s top cop bar and restaurants as well as pubs will have to take the permission of the Excise Department and ensure that adequate measures are taken to ensure that there is no public nuisance. The order, however, restricts the playing of loud music till 1 am, only on the intervening night of 24th and 25th December and December 31st and 1st January. 

 

Over the last few years, deadlines were extended till 1 am only on New Year's Eve. While there have been demands from pubs, bars and restaurants to extend the deadline till 2 am, the police have so far not allowed it citing staff shortage.