06 August 2024, Mumbai
The Retailers’ Association of India (RAI) has praised the Telangana Government's decision to allow all shops and establishments, excluding liquor shops, to stay open until 1AM. This initiative aims to enhance ease of doing business (EoDB), create additional jobs, and offer greater convenience to customers.
In addition to the extended hours, the government has approved 24x7 delivery and takeaway operations for restaurants, further supporting the food and beverage industry.
Kumar Rajagopalan, CEO of RAI, expressed strong support for the move, highlighting that extended hours of operation benefit consumers, businesses, and the government. He noted that this step offers consumers greater flexibility to shop at their convenience, boosts tourism in the state, creates jobs, and energizes the restaurant sector, making the state more vibrant. Rajagopalan emphasized that a dynamic retail environment is crucial for economic growth.
The RAI has been actively engaging with the Telangana Government to implement this policy, following issues with local police enforcing early closures despite a previous 24x7 operation notification.
RAI continues to advocate for similar policies in other states like Maharashtra, Karnataka, and Tamil Nadu to support India's retail sector, projected to reach $2 trillion by 2032.
