100-metre radius rule closes down eateries, city counts losses

Kolkata: After liquor, Election Commission has asked eateries that are within 100 metres of polling booth to stay closed. However, the 100-metre rule would vary from constituency to constituency. This has resulted in closure of more than 400 prominent eateries across the city on April 29 and, for some, both on April 28 and 29.According to EC sources, all business establishments within a 100-metre radius of a polling station must remain closed on polling day, and in certain cases, even a day before the election. The duration of the closure will depend on factors such as the sensitivity of the assembly constituency, the specific polling station, the arrival of CAPF personnel and polling party, and other security-related issues, sources added.Manish Singh, the owner of Balwant Singh Dhaba on Harish Mukherjee Road, pointed out that central forces asked them to close on April 27 evening as they are within the stipulated range. "We are closed since 9 pm on April 27 and would remain closed on April 28 and 29," he added. According to him, this is for the first time that normal eateries were asked to stay shut on election day. "We have not witnessed this earlier. A lot of eateries are also closed here along with ours. There will be a lot of wastage as we had a lot of raw materials," he added.Debaditya Chowdhary, managing director of Chowman, Oudh 1590, Chapter 2 and Chaudhury & Company, said that it has two outlets within 100 metres of polling booth. "We have an Oudh in Vivekananda Park and one Chowman in Sodepur. Both will stay shut on election day," he added. However, he said that there was no instruction to shut those outlets on April 28. "It is functioning on Tuesday," he added. Director of Aminia, Kabir Azhar, pointed out that it has one outlet within the stipulated range of polling booth at Chinar Park, which would be closed during the polling hour. "We are operating today as usual," he said. Aminia has eight outlets in the city. Besides the 100-metre rule, a lot of heritage clubs and restaurants will also stay shut because of staff shortage on election day. The secretary of Calcutta Rowing Club, Chandan Roychowdhury, noted that the club will stay closed on April 29. "There would hardly be any staff. All the city clubs will remain closed," he added. Secretary of International Club, Jayajit Biswas, said it would be closed for two days due to staff shortage and lack of member footfall as the bar is closed.
Check AP SSC 10th Result 2026 on TOI