RailEnquiry

VADODARA: City police have asked the eatery owners to come forward and obtain permission to stay open till 1 am. Citing a state government notification on Wednesday, the police have stated," License holders of hotels, restaurants, eateries and lodges in the city can approach the license branch at the city police commissioner's office if they want to make changes in the deadline timings. The owners should bring original copies of their licence for making changes in the deadline from 11 pm to 1 am in their licence."TOI had highlighted the issue of police forcing restaurateurs to close down their eating joints by 11 pm in Sayajigunj in its report 'Hungry Kya? Sorry, there is no food here' on July 17, 2012. The report had highlighted that railway passengers arriving late in the city had to go hungry due to lack decent food and restaurateurs being unhappy about the early deadlines.City police commissioner Satish Sharma had told TOI that the police were just following a government notification which allowed the eating joints to operate only till 11 pm. He had said that this deadline could be extended if the owners, who want to operate till late, can apply to the police for permission for their eating joints.The police have stated that the deadline timings can be changed temporarily in situations concerning law and order. "It is a welcome move and those restaurateurs who want to serve people till late can now approach the police and get necessary permission. It will benefit the railway passengers and those arriving late in the city," said a restaurant owner.