Chandigarh after midnight: From chai to pizza, a city learning to stay awake
Chandigarh has earned the right to remain awake, but transforming its city into a 24/7 commercial hub proves challenging. Nearly two years after the administration began its 24×7 initiative, almost 200 businesses have joined forces. These establishments range from McDonald's and pizza outlets to tea shops, pharmacies, grocery stores, paan shops, and petrol pumps.
This number is three times more than the initial 48. Nishant Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, emphasized that the initiatives prioritize women's safety and labor law compliance. The city's 24×7 roster highlights an attempt to build a late-night economy, extending beyond conventional nightlife. Fast-food giants like McDonald's, KFC, Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and Subway, along with tea vendors, dessert shops, and quick-service restaurants, are part of the mix.
Sector 8-B has emerged as a popular late-night hotspot, with a concentration of various eateries. However, the initiative's success hinges on whether enough customers are ready to stay awake. While additional manpower and higher operational costs are involved, many entrepreneurs have found limited late-night footfall insufficient to justify these expenses.
Chandigarh's late-night economy remains an evolving experiment, far from the robust after-midnight commercial ecosystem seen in Delhi and Gurgaon.
Written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
