After initial resistance from certain quarters, the Maharashtra Government on Wednesday approved the implementation of its much-discussed ‘Mumbai 24x7’ or ‘Vibrant Mumbai Nightlife’ policy from the intervening night of January 26 and 27.
At a weekly meeting presided over Chief Minister Uddhav Thackeray, the State Cabinet gave a go-ahead for the ‘Mumbai 24x7’ policy without tweaking the current excise rules which permit service of alcoholic beverages only till the existing time limits of 1.30 am.
In effect, the new ‘Vibrant Mumbai Nightlife’ policy will not be applicable to bars, pubs and restaurants serving liquor, which will be permitted to serve alcoholic beverages only till the existing time limits of 1.30 am.
The new ‘Mumbai 24x7’ policy — which is a brain child of Shiv Sena leader and current Tourism and Environment Minister Aditya Thackeray — will allow malls, multiplexes and eateries in the designated areas to function round-the-clock.
State Home Minister Anil Deshmukh, who had initial reservations about implementing the Mumbai 24x7 because of security reasons and on the ground that bars and restaurants cannot serve liquor, came around after Aditya — at a meeting held a few days — convinced him that the policy could be implemented without tweaking the current State excise rules and imposing a lot of burden on the city police force.
Addressing a news conference jointly with the State Home Minister after the State Cabinet gave a nod for the Mumbai 24X7, Aditya said: “Mumbai’s identify is being that of a safe city. In Mumbai, you can get to see women and women moving around Marine Drive and other places safely at around 2 am or 3 am. Mumbai police perform their duty well. But, take the case of tourists coming to Mumbai, they would not be in the city for more than 36 hours. To increase the employment and tourism in Mumbai, we came up with the Mumbai 24x7 proposal in 2013. We are implementing it after seven years”.
“We will implement this policy in malls and mill compounds coming under the Shops and Establishment Act. The malls and mill compounds are in non-residential areas. The people do not live inside these places. There are facilities like parking lots, CCTV, decibel limits, solid waste management. All the establishments there are licenced ones. We are giving permission to all these establishments to remain open for all 24 hours”.
In fact, the Maharashtra Shops and Establishments (Regulation of Employment and Conditions of Service) Act, 2017, allows all establishments to operate around-the-clock.
“There would not be any change in the excise rules. The liquor will be served only up to 1.30 am in bars and restaurants. We are changing that. We are providing facilities who want to eat out, go for shopping or movies. The MVA Government is a people’s Government. We are Government of aspirations. Unlike the BJP Government, we want to encourage the youngsters,” the Tourism Minister said. Home Minister Anil Deshmukh said that that the State Government would ensure that there was no stress on the police force.
“We do not enforce anything here. If some units are not able to keep their establishments for all 24 hours, they can do so. It is not the job of the state government to increase the footfalls. We are enabling the owners of these establishments. Mumbai being an international city, we are giving a 24x7 facility,” Aditya said.
“London’s nightlife economy is 5 billion pounds. In Mumbai, there are five lakh people who directly employed in this service sector. When we say that employment will increase because of
Mumbai 24x7, it is because the owners oif these establishments will have to employ their staff in three shifts. Going that logic, we will have an employment potential of 15 lakh people or at least 10 lakh people in this service sector. Keeping these establishments open, state revenue will increase through various taxes,” he said.
“I do not think there will be tension for the police. Currently, the police personnel do is to track if the establishments are open beyond the stipulated hours rather than controlling crime. Now they do not have to do that job and can concentrate on the job they are meant to do. If the establishments want more security, they can employ private security or hire police security by paying money,” Aditya said.
Public distribution and civil supplies minister Chhagan Bhujbal said that Mumbai Police Commissioner and Municipal commissioner would decide where nightlife would be allowed. “During the meeting a lot of suggestions came in. Like in some of the railway stations of Mumbai where there is rush for 24 hours, people come and go, eateries could remain open there,” Bhujbal said.
Earlier this week, at the bi-annual crime conference, Uddhav, along with his Cabinet colleagues and bureaucracts, held a meeting with the city police officers Mumbai 24x7 proposal.
Among those present at the meeting were Anil Deshmukh, minister of state for home Satej Patil, chief secretary Ajoy Mehta, additional chief secretary Sanjay Kumar, director general of police Subodh Jaiswal and Mumbai police commissioner Sanjay Barve.
Last week, Aditya had held a meeting with the Mumbai Police Commissioner and municipal commissioner Praveen Pardeshi to thrash out issues relating to the Mumbai 24x7