Will Mumbai party till dawn?

The countdown to the mega year end celebrations are now just a few days away with dancing and hors d’oeuvres set to add to the sizzle. But there may be more than one reason for revellers to hope time stands still as they shimmy and shake the year away, for nightclubs and other party spots are looking to stave off the midnight deadline to tide over tax woes and keep guests happy...

‘Taxes kill the business'
Nightclub owner Rishi Acharya says the relaxation in timings on X’mas and NYE, should happen through the year to help tide over tax strain. “We have been paying entertainment taxes for five years now that comes to about Rs12 lakh a year, which nearly kills the hospitality business. We talk of wanting to be like Shanghai and yet the entertainment sector that provides the greatest tourist draw has no respite. We still have to shut at 1.15 am on regular basis, which is silly. Let the government take the money, but allow us to recover it too,” he states.

While nightclub manager Sameer Chhabria seconds that, he adds, “The tax is high but one does have to deal with the law too. As nightclub promoter I’d want the time to be extended as I’d certainly want it to make money but the law is made to keep things under control. However, we have applied for a permit and hopefully will be allowed to stay open till 3.00 am which is the X’mas and NYE special timing.”

‘By popular demand'
The issue might have resonance with party-hearty folk who welcome the time stretch. Model Shamita Singha, who has made plans to grove this year-end, says, “It will be quite retarded not to have relaxed timings as this will give people freedom to enjoy themselves.”

Rishad Byramjee, director of a nightclub at Churchgate, sums it up on a upbeat note. “We hope to be open later than late as we were on last X’mas and New Year’s as the government usually slackens the deadlines on such days. I have to say some people always want the  party to continue till really late.”