Dreams of a midnight metropolis

As Indian cities continue to struggle to build a night-time economy, can Hyderabad's bold new policy make it a truly 24/7 city?

- Manoj Sharma

The world’s great metropolises rarely sleep. In New York, bars buzz till dawn, Broadway theatres run late shows, and Harlem's jazz clubs play well past midnight. London stays alive with West End performances, rooftop cinemas, and 24-hour diners. In Bangkok, night markets thrive into the early hours, while in Berlin, the party often begins after dark.

These cities boast a vibrant “nighttime economy” (NTE) —a vital, revenue-generating ecosystem of retail, dining, entertainment, food, and transportation that thrives after dusk.

But, in India, despite more than a decade of policy discussions, pilot projects, and political promises, metro cities have largely failed to nurture a robust night economy — quite an odd mismatch in a country with a rapidly growing urban middle class, millions of gig workers, and a youthful population hungry for flexible work hours and diverse entertainment options.

Cities continue to struggle to overcome a deeply entrenched “daytime mindset’. Come midnight, metros halt, shops shut, and streets empty — leaving behind only delivery riders and night-shift workers navigating an urban landscape that many find unsafe.

Reshaping nightlife

Now, Hyderabad is attempting to rewrite the script. The Telangana government is preparing to launch a comprehensive NTE policy for the city — India's most ambitious effort yet to reshape urban nightlife. The plan includes appointing a “night mayor”, inspired by Amsterdam's model, and establishing a dedicated Night-Time Economy Authority (NTEA).This body will coordinate night-related business activities, streamline civic services, and eliminate bureaucratic hurdles, while ensuring integrated late-night transport with metro, buses, taxis, and autos.