Mumbai’s Bandra residents want sound sleep, not noise from 24X7 restaurants, malls

Residents want a separate zone for such establishments away from residential areas.

After the state government passed a bill in the Assembly enabling restaurants and malls to remain open round the clock if they get clearance from the police, residents of Bandra are livid with the decision and oppose increasing commercialisation of residential areas.

Once the bill receives the President’s assent, restaurants, multiplexes and malls in the city can remain open round the clock. (Hindustan Times)

They want a separate zone for such establishments away from residential areas.

When Bandra (West) MLA Ashish Shelar spoke about inconvenience to residents on Wednesday, chief minister Devendra Fadnavis said that the police would decide the timings of establishments.

However, resident of Bandra, Khar and Andheri have repeatedly approached the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) and the police against clubs for remaining open way past the mandatory closing time. They allege that the authorities have failed to act against the errant establishments.

“These establishments play loud music. Tipplers create ruckus and unnecessarily honk. So the government’s decision is quite shocking. Former deputy chief minister RR Patil in 2005 assured us that no more eateries would come up in H-West area (Santacruz, Khar, Bandra). Former Mumbai police commissioner Rakesh Maria too had guaranteed that he would check licenses of 37 eateries,” said Anandini Thakoor, trustee of H-West Federation.

Neil Pereira, a resident of Pali Village and an activist, had earlier approached the authorities to act against establishments on 16th Road in Bandra.

He said, “The Thackerays pitched this idea, but they have sound barriers in their house. It is we who have to suffer, once the bill is implemented. If commercial entities have to be kept open all night, it should happen in a separate zone,” Pereira said.

Yuva Sena Chief Aaditya Thackeray first proposed the idea in 2013. Once the bill receives the President’s assent, restaurants, multiplexes and malls in the city can remain open round the clock.