AP eateries seek govt’s okay to remain open till midnight

Hoteliers have called on Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu recently, pointing out that the previous Telugu Desam government had passed G.O. 25 dated 15-10-2018, allowing eateries to function till midnight. The hoteliers want that G.O. to be implemented, extending their business hours till 12:00 a.m.Hoteliers claim the Chief Minister agreed to do so and even directed officials to extend the business hours of hotels, restaurants and eateries till midnight.AP Hotels’ Association president R.V. Swamy said, “Such permission will enable us to serve quality food to people till late in the night. It will also help improve our business and will contribute to the state exchequer by way of taxes.”AP has nearly 2,500 hotels, 10,000 small hotels and around 40,000 restaurants. Hoteliers point out that there are eateries, mainly in the cities, which continue their business up to 1:00–2:00 a.m. without authorisation. They pay no taxes, including GST. If regular hotels are allowed to remain open, then taxes applicable will flow to the state government.Currently, despite 2018’s G.O. 25, no permission appears to have been given, allowing hotels and restaurants in the state to run their business hours up to 12:00 midnight, except for Visakhapatnam, where the city police let eateries to function till 12 a.m.Previously, when hoteliers approached police top brass on implementation of G.O. 25, officers responded that allowing hotels, restaurants and eateries to remain open up to midnight may cause law and order issues, particularly in districts like Kadapa. Other officers say district SPs can decide on the issue, depending on the local law and order situation.Hoteliers maintain that they are asking for extension of business hours for the benefit of those getting down from trains or buses in the night as well as those returning from cinemas after watching the night show. This would also help those who work till late in the night. Such people can get quality food sitting in comfortable environs. Hoteliers are hoping that the state government’s new tourism policy for 2024–29 will have provisions extending their business hours up to midnight. They may also get industry status under the policy, getting a number of incentives and concessions.