Karnataka   

‘We want people to sleep well’

Shankar Bidari: ‘The city is accustomed to a particular ethos and the restrictions are in accordance with them.’

Police Commissioner Shankar M. Bidari shares his views on the situation with Raghava M.

Why did the police put restrictions bar timings?

It is not the police but the Excise Department which has fixed the timings. This is unlike in Maharashtra where the District Magistrate exercises this power. According to Excise Rules, liquor should not be served after 11.30 p.m.

What about eateries?

Those serving food can open till midnight. There is no such restriction on eateries near the airport, Kempegowda Bus Station and the railway stations and on in-house canteens of various software firms and hotel coffee shops.

These restrictions are cutting into the nightlife of Bangaloreans, especially young professionals.

The city is accustomed to a particular ethos and the restrictions are in accordance with them. Anyway establishments function till midnight and we are not coming in the way of them having a feel of the nightlife. The restrictions do inconvenience a few, but they’re good for the majority. We want people to sleep well. Bangalore has a vibrant cultural life. We have music programmes, folk dance and so on that go past midnight. Nightlife does not mean vulgar displays.

Would you consider extending the deadline? The Tourism Department had asked for a 1.30 a.m. cut-off which your predecessor rejected.

I don’t know about it. We can consider it if the Excise Department submits a proposal. We will look into the pros and cons and place our views before the State Government. In Mumbai, serving of liquor is permitted till 2 a.m.

Printer friendly page  
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

Stories in this Section

Statue of Mary desecrated near Mysore
Scheme to provide rice at Rs. 17 a kg begins today
Seminar
Award for Anjanappa
Protest against delay in land regularisation
Procession
‘Farmers being cheated’
Painting show attracts many
MLA orders action against ‘recalcitrant’ doctors
Konkani meet
Shortlisted
Karnataka kho-kho team stands third
Writ petition on flag-hoisting dismissed
‘We want people to sleep well’
Award

Copyright © 2010, The Hindu. Republication or redissemination of the contents of this screen are expressly prohibited without the written consent of The Hindu