NEW DELHI: Nightclubs in the city, especially those in the five-star hotels, were ecstatic when lieutenant governor V K Saxena recently ordered they could operate all 24 hours. Nightclub operators had also welcomed the announcement on ease of getting licences from the municipal corporation, Delhi Police, fire service and Delhi Pollution Control Committee and the reduction in red tape with fewer forms to fill and online submission of documents. The hope that these moves would give a big fillip to the city’s night economy is, however, diminishing by the day. Belying the LG’s announcements, meant as a Republic Day gift to the industry, many nightclubs at five-star hotels haven’t even been able to renew their licences. A few, in fact, have suspended operations till the online facility for permissions is activated.Club owners disclosed that Delhi Police was not granting clearances on the ground that the paperwork couldn’t be done offline any longer. But this reasoning is almost absurd in the backdrop of the licence portal taking its time to go live.Explaining the concerns of nightclub owners, Ankit Khilwani, founder and CEO of Soho nightclub at Hotel Ashok, said the application process, all offline earlier, was to have gone online from January 26 as per the LG’s order. But, he revealed, no such link has been activated till date. Khilwani said his clubs might hold the excise licence, but without the permission of police, they cannot operate beyond 12.30am. This is causing losses to Soho because it pays a high rental to Ashok owner ITDC. He has shut his clubs for a few weeks to stem the losses until the issue of permissions is resolved.Sidhant Sharma brought an international brand’s franchise to Delhi but has been threatened with contract termination because of dipping revenues. The CEO of White Nightclub at Hotel Samrat said that despite having invested in the best infrastructure, the early closing hours are killing his business. Sharma hasn’t been able to convince the brand of the bureaucratic holdups that are affecting the earnings. He has also closed his club for a few days hoping for a quick resolution.For people who are waiting to open new clubs, such as Ankit Das of Soul at Hotel Ashok, the delay is stressful. Das said running a nightclub till 1am doesn’t make business sense. He, Khilwani and Das are banking on the LG’s measures being implemented soon so that the capital’s nightlife can start buzzing again. Delhi Police didn’t respond to queries from TOI on the matter.
Source: https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/delhi/dark-days-for-delhi-nightclubs-over-licence-to-serve-liquor/articleshow/98192647.cms