Night in the city

Come midnight, when most capital cities party, Delhi starts to yawn. Now the Delhi government is considering allowing shops and market areas to remain open 24x7. The move could yet jolt the city into action, but is it really ready? Here’s a look at the reasons Delhi's nightlife never seems to take off, what it’s missing out on, and what the government can do about it

- AYUSHI SINGH

It’s not quite 1am in Hauz Khas Village, a corner of South Delhi known for its busy restaurants, bars, and nightclubs.

Already, the boom of the bass is dying down, as bartenders put away glasses in neat rows, and guards usher stragglers towards the cab and auto ranks. Across the sprawling national capital, from the north campus of Delhi University to downtown Connaught Place and Aerocity, the story is the same: On paper, Delhi has just been allowed to party all night. On the ground, however the capital still prefers to hit the sack early.

Delhi’s tryst with nightlife began in October 2020 when the state government first proposed allowing restaurants to operate round the clock. Two years later, the Lieutenant Governor approved 314 establishments — including hotels and eateries — to operate 24-7 under the Shops and Establishments Act. In December 2022, restaurants and bars in fourand five-star hotels were formally allowed round-the-clock operations, while smaller hotels could stay opentill2am.

The new licensing regime took effect on January 26, 2023. By late 2024, Delhi had extended 24-hour permissions to restaurants in Aerocity, abutting domestic and international airports. This year, three-star hotels were added to the list and discussions were underway tolet shops and markets operate through the night across the national capital.

‘Adding flavour to this new after-hours landscape, the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) on September 3 gave in-principle approval to a Night Food Bazaar at Connaught Place and India Gate, where 50-60 food trucks are expected to line the lawns between 10.30 pmand 1am, dishing out snacks and live performances under the glow ofstreetlights.