Visakhapatnam: The 10.30pm deadline for downing shutters for restaurants and shops has greatly inconvenienced residents and tourists including students, and those office goers who return late from office.
It becomes very difficult to get food anywhere across the city after the deadline other than Two-Three star hotels, which do not fit everybody's budget. Such is the state of affairs in Vizag, the city that is being touted to be the next hub of mega tourism, IT, sports, education and medical hub in Andhra Pradesh.
There are nearly 500 hotels and restaurants in the city, including over half a dozen star hotels.
With hotels and restaurants as well as shops downing their shutters by 10.30pm following orders, tourists and others are suffering for lack of eating facilities said a owner of a restaurant on condition of anonymity.
“If we keep the restaurant open until 11pm, the police will demand money and several dishes!"
“Vizag, has been growing by leaps and bounds, the restaurants should remain open at least till 11pm. I had gone to a restaurant around 10.20 pm on Beach Road in the city to have my favourite chicken biryani. But, had to return hungry as the restaurant owner said he would be unable to serve the food as he has to shut down at 10.30 pm,” said Anil Kumar, a techie in Vizag.
Many tourists from Odisha and West Bengal in Vizag found all restaurants closed by 10.30pm. “We have been demanding the government and city cops to allow restaurants and coffee shops in Vizag to remain open till 12. But, our requests and demands were disregarded citing various reasons including security,” said president of Visakhapatnam Hotel Merchants Association, T. Satyanarayana.
When contacted, DCP (Crimes) T. Ravi Kumar Murthy said the decision to extend the deadline of closing time of the restaurants could be taken only by the Commissioner of Police with prior permission from the government. As the city is yet to get a full time city police chief, hoteliers will have to wait some more weeks for the issue to be taken up.
