Mumbai Shops, Malls, Eateries Allowed To Remain Open 24x7 from Jan. 26
Like other metropolises, Mumbai functions 24x7, and shouldn’t lag behind in nightlife, Maharashtra Tourism Aaditya Thackeray says.
Maharashtra Tourism Minister Aaditya Thackeray on Saturday said that shops, malls and eateries in the non-residential areas of Mumbai will have the option of remaining open 24x7 from Jan. 26, although it will not be made compulsory.
Giving examples of nightlife in London, U.K., and Indore in Madhya Pradesh, Thackeray said Mumbai too should not lag behind in providing similar facilities to people at night as the metropolis functions 24x7.
He also said that associating nightlife with alcohol consumption alone was wrong.
"Mumbai functions 24x7. If online shopping is open 24 hours, then why should shops and establishments be kept shut at night? It is not compulsory for the shops and malls to be open at night. It is up to them if they wish to remain open,” Thackeray said.
“No norms have been changed," he added.
The 29-year-old Yuva Sena chief, who has been pitching for a 24x7 Mumbai since 2013, said the Maharashtra government would not tinker with the excise norms.
"We are not tinkering with the excise norms," he said.
Thackeray said London's night-time economy is worth £5 billion.
"Indore's Sarafa Market is also open at night. Even Ahmedabad has made some changes in its policy last year. Then why should Mumbai lag behind? We are just providing facility for food and shopping for 24 hours in non-residential areas," he said.