Rooftop area of Jonah’s, Fatty Bao shut down by B’luru officials, more pubs get notice

For a long time now, residents of Bengaluru’s Indiranagar have been lamenting the noise made by revellers at terrace lounges in the area.

Cracking a whip on pubs with terrace lounges, the BBMP, on Friday night, shut down the terrace areas of two pubs located on Indiranagar 12th main based on orders of Dr Ashok, the Joint Commissioner (East), BBMP.

Dr Ashok visited the area after receiving numerous complaints about the noise from residents.

Jonah's and Fatty Bao shut their rooftop lounge, which used to operate till 1 am, as they were located in a residential area and were found violating the norms. On Thursday night, Tippler On the Roof, another well-known bar, shut shop following High Court orders.

“We have shut down the rooftop area after the inspection yesterday. However, our restaurant will be open till 10.30 pm,” a spokesperson from Fatty Bao told TNM.

When news of the Joint Commissioner’s inspection got around, several other pubs and bars shut down their rooftop operations on Friday night. One of the pubs, The Humming Tree, even cancelled a scheduled evening gig.

“The biggest problem are the rooftop bars and restaurants and establishments with rooftop seating facilities were the main targets of the inspection as most of the complaints were about terrace or rooftop lounges. Closure notices were issued but they did not comply, so we shut them down,” Dr Ashok told TNM.

In addition to the inspection, residents of Indiranagar held a candlelight vigil on Friday and demanded that commercial establishments should not be allowed to operate in residential areas.

“Most of these rooftop bars and pubs do not have permission to function in residential areas. Most of them also do not comply with fire safety or building plan norms. They are open remain until 1 or 2 am and the loud music is disturbing,” said Sneha Nandihal, President of BM Kaval Bairasandra Resident Welfare Association, who was at the protest.

The residents also alleged that Friday night’s inspection was the first one to ever be conducted by the Joint Commissioner. “We hope this is a positive step. There are over 90 pubs, bars and liquor-serving establishments on Indiranagar 12th Main, 100 ft Road and 80 ft Road which are violating norms. Now that the BBMP has finally taken action, we hope something good will come out of this,” said Aruna Newton, a member of the HAL 2nd Stage Civic Amenities and Cultural Association of Indiranagar.

The protesting residents also alleged that residents were receiving threats from the 100 ft Road Traders’ Association.

“We are now worried about our safety as well. Besides, the BBMP has been misleading everyone in this issue. They claim to have issued closure notices to so many establishments but they are still operating till 1 am. Why is BBMP looking the other way?” Sneha asked.

However, Dr Ashok promised to go after the illegal establishments and shut them down in 15 days.