Senior office bearers and members of Bharatiya Janata Party Vyapari Prakoshta submitted a memorandum to Member of Parliament, Rakesh Singh and demanded for opening of night markets in the city, following the model of Indore.

State Coordinator, Sharad Agrawal said at present the administration has imposed restriction on opening shops after 11 pm. The arrangement causes inconvenience to general public due to unavailability of food items late at night. Moreover, the restriction has adversely impacted the livelihoods of the traders involved. He said in the past, there used to be significant activity in the late-night food market. Indore has taken the initiative to keep its markets open 24 hours. This move has helped in controlling crimes and alcohol consumption in the surrounding areas.

 

He said business class generally returned home by 10 pm and get the opportunity to enjoy meals with their families late into the night. Vyapari Prakoshta members said the provision of late-night food services would also prove beneficial for lawyers, police personnel, journalists, hospital staff, rickshaw, auto drivers, who work night shifts and also the people who come from far flung areas to Jabalpur in wake of better medical treatment or official work. During discussion MP Singh recalled that in 1987, the then Police Superintendent Asha Gopalan had restricted the late-night food service in Jabalpur and since then, it has remained closed. The demand of Vyapari Prakoshta is worthy and will prove advantageous for the citizens.