Police say 5-star coffee shops, other all-night joints divert manpower away from bigger issues like security for terrorism; citizens grumble at police order asking joints to down shutters at 1.30 am
Police say 5-star coffee shops, other all-night joints divert manpower away from bigger issues like security for terrorism; citizens grumble at police order asking joints to down shutters at 1.30 am
If you happen to be one of those Mumbaikars who work ungodly hours, or even ordinary ones for that matter, you can forget about hanging out at places that stay open all through the night. For, the Mumbai police has ordered all round-the-clock joints to down shutters by 1.30 am, effective putting an end to midnight buffets, late-night coffee or a snack after a night of heavy partying. 
No more munching late after midnight: Customers grab a bite at
an all-night coffee shop in an elite hotel. Hoteliers say the police
department'su00a0 rule is bad for business, as it weans away visitors and
tourists. File pic
The reasonu00a0-- it does not want the additional burden of providing security to places open 24x7. The police force sent out a letter last week to all restaurants/hotels, even those that have the licence to remain open until dawn, commanding them to shut down at 1.30 am. Cops cite the reason in the letter: eateries and other establishments running in the wee hours force them to divert their manpower towards miniscule issues, at a time when they have the bogey of terrorism to battle.
The notification hasn't gone down very well in a city that allegedly never sleeps: we need the coffee to stay up, its inhabitants exclaim. "Last I checked, they were calling it Maximum City, one that never goes to sleep. If it weren't for the all night joints, how do you think we stayed up in the first place," says Puneet Singh, who recently moved from Delhi to the city. "It is childish to expect grown-ups, specially those who work in the odd hours, to stay in during night hours."
'Ridiculous'
The early closure also plays spoiler for tourism and, consequently, state revenue, hoteliers say. "On one hand, we talk about wooing tourists to the city known for its nightlife, on the other, we kill its charm with weird rules," said a director of a five-star hotel in Juhu, who did not wish to be named. He added, "We were given thee permission to run until late night, so tourists may bring foreign currency to the state. But I believe the police department does not feel the need to do that."
The letter further states that in the wake of the 26 /11 attacks, and now the 13/7 serial blasts, the department does not want to take any chances with security. To which, a Fort hotelier says, "This is just ridiculous. The letter says that sundry problems at hotels may require the force to deploy its manpower, keeping officials away from more important work. It forgets that it is only our industry that accords sufficient security to their guests. The order is simply impractical."
Citizens unhappy
Party-goer Manoj Khetwani dismisses the deadline as foolish. "Most round-the-clock coffee shops and discos operate within enclosed premises. So where's the threat in people partying or hanging out until late? In a city where people work till late evening, winding out can only happen in late night. This is just a foolish idea," he said.
Official speaks
Sheila Sahil, senior police official with HQ1 of Mumbai Police that issued the notification imposing the time limit, said, "We have asked all-night establishments to shut at 1.30 am for security purposes." However, reliable sources from the police force revealed that the department is reconsidering its decision and may revoke the order soon, thanks to immense pressure from the hotel industry.
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