24x7 shops in Mumbai: Pressure on police, safety of women are issues, says Congress

Top police and civic officials in the city are not worried about implementation of the order

The state government’s decision to allow shops, malls, restaurants and theatres across Maharashtra to stay open 24x7 seems to largely have been received well, and top police and civic officials are not worried about the implementation of the order. However, the Congress has raised questions about the impact this would have on the over-burdened police force and the safety of women employees who work till late night.

The move is expected to benefit seven lakh commercial establishments in Mumbai. (HT File Photo)

“The decision should be welcomed. It actually means that shops, malls and restaurants can be kept open for longer hours at night where there is business. It won’t happen across the city. The decision will encourage night shopping, and eating-out zones will see development,”said former labour minister and NCP leader Nawab Malik, who had initiated a similar move during his tenure but the then Congress-NCP government had put it on hold. “But the government must ensure that owners of businesses observe labour laws.”

State Congress spokesman Sachin Sawant is not sure this is a great idea because of the pressure it would put on the police force. “As it is, Mumbai police face tremendous pressure, and this will add to their workload.”

There are also concerns about the inconvenience residents staying close to shopping zones and eateries would face, in terms of traffic, lights and noise levels.

The government on Tuesday announced in the state legislature that it has issued a notification to allow 35 lakh shops and commercial establishments across Maharashtra to run business round the clock. Under the current rules, shops can be stay open till 10pm and restaurants till 12.30am, while commercial establishments can function till 9.30pm.

This means that essentially restaurants, cinema halls, salons, clinics, professional consultants, banks and other shops and establishments can operate round the clock if they want. The move is expected to benefit seven lakh commercial establishments in Mumbai.

The state government has, however, retained the power to exclude certain segments, areas or types of business. So bars and liquor shops will not enjoy this privilege.

State labour minister Sambhaji Nilangekar Patil said that civic bodies and the police can approach the government if they want any segment excluded from round-the-clock work hours.

Nilangekar Patil also said that the state is thinking of handing over the enforcement of the Act in Mumbai to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation. Municipal Commissioner Ajoy Mehta said: “The BMC is waiting for the notification. Following this, it will work out the nitty-gritties of the order as applicable for Mumbai.”

While the passage of the legislative bill implies that it has come into effect from Tuesday itself, it does not mean that shops will stay open 24x7 from today itself, a civic official, requesting anonymity, pointed out. “There will be a window for civic bodies to complete the required formalities, if they have the responsibility of regulating shops.”

The Mumbai police, too, did not express concerns. Deven Bharti, joint commissioner of police (law and order), said there would be no problem implementing the decision.