Bengaluru restaurants permitted to stay open until 3:30 AM for World Cup matches
The Karnataka government has officially permitted hotels and restaurants across the city of Bengaluru to remain open and serve food until 3:30 AM on July 14, 15, and 19. This temporary extension is designed to facilitate late-night public screenings of the FIFA World Cup semi-finals and the tournament's final match.
The policy change provides local football fans with the opportunity to gather at commercial establishments to watch the highly anticipated games. Under normal operating regulations in Bengaluru, restaurants and hotels are strictly required to shut down their operations by 1:00 AM. The new directive extends this daily operational limit by two and a half hours, specifically for the three designated match days.
Chief Minister D K Shivakumar announced the administration's decision following a formal representation submitted by the National Restaurant Association of India, which had requested the extension to accommodate the sporting event. Following the Chief Minister's announcement, an official note from the Chief Minister's Office confirmed that Bengaluru City Police Commissioner Seemanth Kumar Singh has issued the formal order extending the restaurant closure timings.
In a public statement shared on the social media platform X, Chief Minister Shivakumar emphasized that safety measures would remain a key focus during the late-night hours. He wrote that the decision was taken while ensuring that public safety, law and order, and the convenience of citizens remain the government's highest priorities. The Chief Minister also urged residents to enjoy the matches responsibly and to extend their full cooperation to the local authorities.
This special timing window is strictly limited to three specific dates during the football tournament. It covers the two semi-final matches scheduled for July 14 and July 15, as well as the final match scheduled for July 19. The announcement was made ahead of the first semi-final match, which features France taking on Spain at 12:30 AM on Wednesday.
