Bars, Restaurants In Puducherry Can Do Business For 2 Hours More

Puducherry: Department of Excise in Puducherry will permit bars and hotels and restaurants serving liquor to remain open for two hours beyond the usual closing time for New Year.

An official source said that usually the bars and liquor shops would close at 11 pm every day. The bars and hotels and restaurants serving liquor can remain open and do business for two hours beyond the deadline till 1 am on January 1 as a special case of New Year celebration.

The department levies special fee for extra hours of business. The department has issued special permits in this regard to a number of shop owners and hotel establishments to carry on business beyond the usual deadline.

Puducherry has a total of 450 liquor shops and special permits on payment of the fixed fee of Rs 2,500 for an hour of business would be issued to the shop owners to do business on New Year day.

With Puducherry attracting large inflow of people on the eve of New Year the police department has come out with elaborate security arrangements to regulate traffic and to ensure safety of the people during celebration of New Year.