Bengaluru Hospitality Seeks CM's Approval for 24/7 Operations

The Bruhat Bengaluru Hoteliers Association (BBHA) has penned a letter to Chief Minister Siddaramaiah, outlining various pre-budget requests.

Notably, their primary appeal centers on permitting restaurants and eateries to operate round the clock.

PC Rao, President of BBHA, has consistently emphasized that allowing 24/7 operations would stimulate business growth, boost employment opportunities, and better serve customers, particularly those on night shifts.

Following a meeting with Home Minister G Parameshwara, Rao stated that the government is actively addressing the matter and reassured that permission will be granted soon, noting that it was discussed in a cabinet meeting.

Last year, the association also raised their appeal with deputy chief minister DK Shivakumar, who reportedly responded positively to their request.

Contrarily, Bengaluru City Police have previously declined requests for 24/7 operations, citing staff shortages to maintain law and order.

The association reports that Bengaluru hosts over 24,000 hotels, with nearly 10 percent willing to operate round the clock. Many aim to cater exclusively to night workers like auto drivers, newspaper vendors, media professionals, and florists.

Emphasizing the need to limit operations to commercial areas to avoid disturbances in residential zones, the association points out that states like Kerala, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu have already permitted 24/7 operations.

The association additionally proposes that trade licenses, Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI) licenses, and Shop and Establishment licenses be made permanent to streamline business operations.

Furthermore, they urge the state government to confer industrial status upon the hotel sector.

They have observed that as the hotel industry significantly contributes to tourism growth, establishments in tourist hubs should receive special allowances regarding license registration and property taxes. Misbah Sheikh, a night shift employee, expressed that allowing 24/7 operations would be highly advantageous if the government considered it.

"On certain occasions, I struggle to arrange food to sustain myself during the entire shift. Once my shift concludes at 4 am, I often find myself waiting until 6-6:30 am for restaurants to start serving. As night shift workers, our health is already compromised due to our unusual work hours. Access to food is essential to help us cope," she explained.