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If Aditya Thackeray has his way, the term "SEZ" could get a new meaning in Mumbai. Plans to create Special Entertainment Zones, or nightlife zones, in the city, outlined by the leader of the youth wing of Shiv Sena, recently got a positive response from key players, including the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC), Mumbai Police and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis. Thackeray promises his SEZs have economic potential too. Should the changes proposed by him be made in the March or August session of the state legislature, citizens and tourists could get all-hour access to restaurants, cafes and shops in certain non-residential pockets like Bandra-Kurla Complex (BKC) or Nariman Point. This would mean eateries, cafes, milk shops and chemists in the areas can function through the night. Establishments at the Mumbai airport are also expected to benefit from this move.
Partygoers and businesses have welcomed the idea. "Now hopefully we won't have people getting furiously drunk because they are trying to get it all in before the club closes," says celebrity blogger Malini Agarwal of MissMalini fame. More restaurants and night clubs could be launched, expects Agarwal, who founded Friday Club that hosted social events for those new to the city. The Maharashtra government hopes to collect Rs 3,500 crore in additional taxes annually, according to a previous report in Business Standard. But wedding planner Dhawal Oza rings a note of caution."It is a bubble waiting to burst but there will be a lot of fine print and conditions attached. Policies and licensing will become more stringent and demand huge fees, which could be higher than the anticipated earnings," says Oza.
Raids and crackdowns pared down the party scene in Mumbai some years ago. The infamous crackdowns by assistant commissioner of police, Vasant Dhoble, beginning with the raid at Oakwood, Juhu, early in 2012 led to fewer partygoers venturing out. A 10 pm deadline for open-air events had already been in place. Crowds at clubs thinned.
Traffic and commuting often increase the time it takes to return from workplaces and head to nightclubs. This has resulted in a trend of house parties instead. The scenario could "now see a shift to an outdoor location given the permissions," says Shahrom Oshtori, director of food and beverage at Sofitel BKC. The challenge faced by establishments currently, he adds, is to wrap up by 1.30 am, when the crowd fills up only an hour or two before the time.
At BKC, restaurants including contemporary Chinese joint Yauatcha, the Boulangerie, Le Pain Quotidien, molecular gastronomy-driven Masala Library, as well as Sofitel's jazz and blues bar, Artisan, could stretch serving hours. So could Good Times Bar and Signature Bar at the Mumbai Airport. Further, Nariman Point with eateries like Pizza By The Bay and Frangipani could burn the midnight oil. Colaba corporator Makarand Narvekar, who helped present Thackeray's idea to BMC, claims the benefits will not limit themselves to posh establishments and their patrons. "The plan will include even milk booths within the zones."
Thackeray's own age is evidenced in the use of exclamation points, uppercase and terms like "tweeps" while declaring the news of approval from Mumbai Police Commissioner Rakesh Maria on Valentine's Day on Twitter. The city would have a "vibrant nightlife" by the end of the year, the 24-year-old noted. His plan was born of a desire to have places to hang out in post-work or after a late-night drive. The city that never sleeps has been put to sleep by "Stone Age laws", Thackeray, a budding poet, said in an interview to The Times of India. The law he refers to is the Shops and Establishments Act, 1948, which imposes the existing deadlines. The major hurdle had been getting a no-objection certificate from the police. With that in place, the proposal seems poised to be implemented.
There are challenges ahead, however. Mumbai has a lot of areas with mixed use where commercial and residential establishments share space. It is unclear at this point how the residences and businesses will be demarcated. While Thackeray has named a few pockets, Narvekar says it may be premature to do so. "There are suggestions from residents and active youngsters. But the focus is first on getting the act amended, and then we will look at sorting the zones," he says. Views of citizens' groups could come into play and licensing could become more complex, says Oza.
Comparatively, the nightlife in Mumbai still fares better than those in other Indian cities. and local tourists often visit to dine and dance into the wee hours of the day. But for the city's nightlife to be truly back to its glory days, ancillary services like cabs and trains will have to be upgraded. "They have to make sure the last Metro trip is not at 11pm," says Vipul Yadav, who conducts food trails at night. There are already some places across the city that stay open overnight to feed the sleepless. But Ravish Shetty, owner of Road Houze Bluez in Andheri, points out, "These are shady so that you don't feel comfortable going there with female friends." Most of them run on the sly, of course. "We want to legalise it so there is no exploitation of labour." Seasoned revellers like blogger Agarwal are looking forward to the changes with an equal measure of anticipation and precaution. "I think the important thing is for Mumbai's party-goers to respect the freedom this ruling will afford us and not abuse it so it can stay like this for a long time."
