Hotels can stay open till 5 am on Jan 1

MUMBAI: There is good news for party-goers and hoteliers this new year’s eve. The Mumbai police have permitted hotels and pubs to remain open from the midnight of December 31 till 5 am the next day.
Earlier, party animals and hoteliers alike were worried that they would have to put off their plans as the police were reluctant to give permission to keep commercial establishments open after 1.30 am due to security reasons.
“We decided to give the permission to keep these establishments open till late as the state home department has given its nod. We have also assessed the security situation in the city,’’ a top police official told TOI.
Customers to be checked before entry
Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR) representatives said they met senior officials for an extension and the police agreed.
“This will not only bring in much-needed revenue for the hotel industry, but will usher in the joy and spirit of the celebrations once again,” AHAR president Sudhakar Shetty said. The hoteliers said it would have been unfair to have different rules for five-star hotels.
“Three-star and five-star hotels attract more people and pose a greater security risk. The state excise department has given us permission to keep hotels open till 5 am,” said Soni Sachdev, an advisor to AHAR, who operates a pub in Juhu.
Party-goers welcomed the extension. “We know there is an alert and the police will have to be more careful. But why should a city, where people work so hard to eke out a living , bear the brunt? It is a matter of a few hours,” said Piyush Kumar, who plans to go to a pub in Andheri.
The police have told hoteliers to check customers before entry. “We have told them to watch out for suspicious movement, unclaimed luggage and fast-moving vehicles. The hoteliers have to inform the nearest police station and stop the party if need be,” a senior police official said. The police said that they were receiving fewer applications for permission to organize parties this time.