Bangalore: With the decision to extend the nightlife deadline still pending, and the three-month interim extension ending this weekend, it’s not clear if bars and pubs across the city will be allowed to remain open till 1am this weekend.Â
A review meeting to take a call on extending the deadline is yet to take place.Â
City police commissioner Raghavendra H Auradkar said a report on the three-month interim extension has been sent to the home department and the report favours permitting restaurants to remain open till 1am. But Auradkar said the extension of closing time for establishment serving liquor was the excise department’s call. “The excise department has to frame rules and grant permission. We’re clear about the eateries,” he added. An excise department official said once the government grants permission, the department will issue a notification to this effect.Â
Police sources said they don’t see a problem in restaurants working till 1am but there might be some problem with regard to bars unless the fresh orders are out.Â
Young people in the city remain optimistic. “We hope the home department will issue the order by Friday morning so that there’s no break in our weekend partying,” said Rohan Menezes, a 23-year-old advertising professional.Â