Commercial establishments in Hyderabad to shut down by 10:30 PM everyday

Hyderabad police issued the directions after CM Revanth Reddy took a review of the law-and-order situation in Telangana following recent incidents of violent crimes.

Hyderabad: Once bustling till late hours, Hyderabad’s famed nightlife is losing steam. Citing law and order situation, the Hyderabad Police has directed commercial establishments to close down their business between 10.30 pm and 11 pm every day.

The police issued the directions after Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy reviewed the law and order situation in the State following recent incidents of violent crimes. The police also advised people not to offer rides to strangers and move aimlessly on roads late at night. Those consuming liquor at public places were warned of stringent action.

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However, the city police’s directions to close down the commercial establishments by 10.30 pm evoked sharp reactions from the business community and the citizens.

Mohd Jabber, a businessman from Pathergatti, said tourists and local people hang around Charminar till midnight and even beyond on weekends as it is a wellknown tourist attraction.

“The government should control crime but it should not be at the cost of the livelihood of law-abiding citizens,” he said. Another businessman, Mohd Sohaib, from Shah Ali Banda, said the lifestyle in the city was changing and people preferred to move around with families in the evening.

“We have customers rushing to the shop during closing hours and making purchases. The government should allow the shops to remain open till midnight,” he said. Anirudha, who runs a tiffin centre at Begum Bazaar, says in a city like Hyderabad, shops and commercial establishments should be allowed to run 24×7. “The city has an active nightlife and families move around round-the-clock.

Keeping this in mind, it should be left to the management to decide when to open or close shops,” he said. Sai Kiran, a chartered accountant, said the government should allow nightlife to prosper in a city like Hyderabad where people from different States are settling down. “The police should come up with effective ways to control crime without impacting law-abiding citizens. Common shoppers and shopkeepers do not create trouble, why should they be targeted,” he wondered.