Condom bar turns 'Glassi bar'

CHANDIGARH: Following sharp decline in liquor sales and objections raised by residents, the Chandigarh Industrial and Tourism Development Corporation Limited (CITCO) has rechristened the name of the condom bar at Baithak in Kala Gram to 'Glassi Bar.'
Brainchild of CITCO's former MD Jasbir Singh Bir, the bar was inaugurated with much fanfare in 2007. The much-hyped bar was opened to the public by an AIDS victim, Pooja Thakur, who is also president of a voluntary counselling group for people living with HIV and AIDS.
The interiors and ambience had been tastefully done to educate people on the deadly disease.
Initially, the condom bar attracted hordes of people from the country and abroad.
However, customers found slogans on the walls a bit 'too loud'. Also, the practice of handing condoms in place of balance cash was quite unwelcome.
Sources said following Bir transfer from the city, speculation was rife that the bar's name would be changed as top officials of UT administration had received a negative response.
Talking to the TOI, Bir said, "I don't want to comment on the issue."
Confirming the development, a senior official remarked, "Now, we don't have any table or wall depicting messages on AIDS awareness or safe-sex slogans." "The idea was novel but declining revenues and repeated objections by families forced us to change the name," he added.