Restaurant and hotel owners plan to approach Chief Minister over extending the deadline to 1.30 am
Restaurant and hotel owners plan to approach Chief Minister over extending the deadline to 1.30 am
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Restaurant and hotel owners in the city feel they can't take it lying down anymore.
Despite a State government directive allowing restaurants and pubs to remain open till 1.30 am, they question why Pune is given step-motherly treatment.
Even though the official deadline for Pune is 12.30 am, club owners say cops do not allow guests to enter the premises after 11.30 pm.
Restaurant owners have now decided to take extreme measures and will shoot letters to the Mantralaya and to the chief minister Ashok Chavan demanding for an extension of their deadline to 1.30 pm.
'It's a young city'
Party goers, restaurant and lounge owners believe that a young city like Pune cannot go to sleep so early.
Kanakdas Shetty, president of the Hoteliers and Restaurants Association of Pune (PHRA) said, "We have sent a request to the commissioner to meet us. But our letter to the Mantralaya is already drafted and we have mentioned all our problems in the letter including extending deadline, getting licenses late, regular follow-ups with the police and corporation, paper-work and many others. We will send the letter in a couple of days to the Chief Minister, DG, Governor and Home Ministry."u00a0u00a0u00a0
The one-hour extension can help the government earn an extra 15-20 per cent to the existing revenue. The daily business of nearly 2,000 restaurants, bars and pubs in the city is around Rs 2 crore.
Ashwin Doizode, manager, One Lounge said, "In 2008, the PHRA had sent a letter to cut down composite tax from 8 per cent to 5 per cent and it was approved. Hopefully, the same will happen this time too. As far as revenue is concerned, we can earn much more. Guests like to stay back late, order alcohol, starters but because of the deadline are unable to do so."
Meanwhile, partygoers are in two minds over extending the deadline. While some believe that a late deadline will mean a better night life, others support the cops over the deadline issue.
Amit Gupta, businessman, said, "I end up going to Scream every Saturday as it's the only place which is open till 1.30 am. It's a sad thing that a youthful city like Pune has a 12.30 am deadline."
Socialite Tehseen Poonawala believes that the rules and regulations are made for the safety of the citizens.
"I completely accept their concern as Pune is a soft target for terror attacks."
Additional CP Sanjivkumar Singhal maintains that if any restaurant wants extension beyond the existing deadline they can file an application.
He further added, "According to the state gazette the deadline is 12.30 am and we are only authorised to issue licences till that time."
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