People's lack of confidence in the law and order scenario has dampened the enthusiasm of malls and restaurants to stay open round-the-clock, despite the Union cabinet's recent decision allowing them to do so.

The general opinion is that night culture is yet to catch up in Patna because people don't have confidence in the city police to ensure their safety during late-night hours.

Kislay, one of the partners at Forks n Pins, a food court and a bowling alley in Patna Central Mall, cited the poor law and order situation as one of the major deterrents in not keeping open their establishments open late hours. "We generally start shutting shop after 9.30pm because of dip in customer footfall. People here feel unsafe to go out after 9pm and so, staying opening does not make any sense," he said.

Two weeks ago, the Union cabinet decided to clear the Model Shops and Establishment Act that allows malls, restaurants, cinemas and shops to operate 24x7, 365 days.

Restaurant owners welcomed the Union cabinet decision but a lot has to be planned before malls, shops, restaurants are kept open round-the-clock.

Ashok Kumar, the manager at 17 Degrees, a restaurant at P&M Mall, said: "We start closing our restaurants at 10pm, as people are not very comfortable to dine till late night in hotels owing to security reasons."

Echoing Ashok was BJP leader Sushil Kumar Modi. He said Patna was not conducive to adopt a nightlife culture because of spur in crime recently. Modi claimed that the footfall in restaurants, malls and cinemas had dropped at night after the Grand Alliance government came to power.

If malls and restaurants are kept open round-the-clock, the biggest question will be providing security to women.

Akriti Sinha, working in a Noida-based BPO and spotted at P&M Mall, said: "The Centre's decision is welcome, as it would be fantastic to leave work late and go out to dinner or shopping. But I don't see that the Centre's decision will have any impact in Patna."

Akriti, who hails from Hanuman Nagar in Patna, had come to the city to spend her vacation. She added: "It is great news, especially for those who work late, but in a city like Patna, where there is no night life, the Centre's decision will not redundant because of the lack of big corporate houses and BPO offices as in the metropolitan and other cities."

Total prohibition in the state will also prove a hurdle for round-the-clock business establishments.

Shakil Ahmed, the manager of New Patna Club at Beer Chand Patel Marg, said: "The club business in Patna waned in the past few months since the state government introduced total prohibition in the state. Regular members visit the club less frequently. So there is no chance of attracting people or new members with our round-the-clock operations."

A proprietor, who used to own a bar-cum-restaurant on Boring Road before prohibition, preferring anonymity, said: "A major chunk of our customers used to be drinkers. But with prohibition, their numbers shrunk."

He added that if prohibition was not implemented: "We could have hoped the government to allow our bar to function round-the-clock, under the new Act."

Mall and restaurant owners also claimed that unlike metropolitan cities and A-tier cities such as Pune, Bangalore and Hyderabad, the purchasing power of people is not much in Patna.

Kislay said: "We have limited customers as the buying and spending power of people are not much as compared to people in metropolitan and other A-tier cities. The majority of customers is from a handful of education institutions such as NIFT, CNLU or CIMP and professionals working in corporate houses. Their numbers are limited and if we keep our establishment open 24x7, it will be difficult for us to attract customers."

QUOTES

"The new Act is welcome. At least a few restaurants and malls such as P&M should remain open round-the-clock to cater to the needs of people working late or not having time during the day."

Yuvraj Dixit (23), student

"The new Act will have no impact in Patna, primarily owing to security reasons. People are afraid to go out after 10pm and even shops on Boring Road and Fraser Road start closing after 8.30pm."

Robin Prasad (27), student

"The new Act is welcome, as if the government tightens security measures, people will get adapted to new culture and help Patna to bring up a night culture as in metropolitan cities."

Akhilesh Kumar (27), student