Nightlife boost for Bengaluru: Karnataka govt allows shops and establishments to open till 1am

Night life in Bengaluru

In a boost to nightlife in Bengaluru, Karnataka government recently issued an order extending the deadline for hotels, shops, bars, and licensed establishments to 1 am daily.

The move is also expected to generate significant revenue for the government, which is under pressure to implement five poll guarantees costing around Rs 55,000 crore a year.

The order issued by State Urban Development Department dated July 29 applies to establishments under the jurisdiction of the Bruhat Bengaluru Mahanagara Palike (BBMP), allowing them to remain open till 1 am.

Also, read: Bengaluru shops, establishments get green light to stay open until 1 am

The notification stated that clubs, hotels, bars, and restaurants in Bengaluru can serve food and liquor till 1 am daily. As per the order, CL-4 (licence to clubs), CL-6 (A) (star hotel licences), CL-7 (hotel and boarding house licences), and CL-7D (hotel and boarding house licences owned by persons belonging to the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes) licence holders can operate businesses from 9 am to 1 am. Those with the CL-9 (refreshment room (bar)) license can operate from 10 am to 1 am.

Bruhath Bangalore Hotels Association President, PC Rao, said, "So far, only bars and restaurants within the limits of the commissionerate had permission to be open till 1 am. Now, all commercial establishments across the BBMP limits will remain open till 1 am.”

Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah, in his 2024-2025 budget speech, announced that shops and establishments will be allowed to open till 1 am in Bengaluru and 10 other corporation areas to further trade and commerce. However, this notification pertains only to BBMP limits.

Also, read: Bar hopping in Bangalore: an authoritative guide