Bars, pubs in Mumbai can remain open till 5 am on 1 January with prior police permission, says official

Mumbai: Hotels, bars and pubs in Mumbai can remain open till 5 am on 1 January for New Year celebrations with prior permission from local police stations, a senior official said on Saturday.

Representational image. Reuters

Deputy Commissioner of Police Manjunath Singe told PTI that an order issued by the Maharashtra government's excise department has allowed restaurants, bars, hotels and pubs in Mumbai to remain open till 1.30 am on 1 January.

"However, they will be allowed to remain open till 5 am if they have prior permission from their local police stations," Singe, who is also the Mumbai police's spokesperson, said.

The city police's order comes days after Yuva Sena chief Aaditya Thackeray wrote to Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis asking him to let legal establishments remain open 24X7 in metro cities.

On 27 December, Aaditya had written to Fadnavis, demanding that Mumbai, Thane, Navi Mumbai, Pune and other such cities should be open all night for "all legal activities of entertainment and celebration", especially in non-residential areas, on New Year's eve.