Gachibowli DLF Street to be shut by 11 pm till elections

Hyderabad: As the upcoming Telangana State Legislative Assembly elections draw near, the local police have issued directives to vendors on DLF Street in the Gachibowli area.

These orders mandate that food vendors close their shops by 11 pm, which marks a significant change from their usual operating hours. Typically, these stalls would remain open until 1 am, making them a popular late-night snacking destination for IT employees from nearby companies and street food enthusiasts.

DLF Street has long been recognised for its diverse food offerings, catering to a wide array of tastes and preferences; from shawarma, biryani, kebabs, and maggi to dosa, momos, fruit juices, and ice creams, the street provides a culinary experience that appeals to a broad spectrum of customers. Besides serving as a go-to spot for late-night cravings and a popular hangout for the city’s youth, it also offers a welcome respite to those working night shifts.

The new restrictions have raised concerns among the street vendors, notably impacting their business.

The owner of AM-PM Maggi Point expressed the financial burden this change would bring, highlighting that their primary customer traffic occurs during the nighttime hours. This shift in operational hours for an extended period is causing considerable economic hardship for these vendors.

One vendor lamented, “We do not have any business during breakfast and lunchtime. The only time we get customers is during the night. If we cut down hours there and that too for so many days, it is a huge loss to us.”

Employees working night shifts, who have come to rely on these late-night food options, are among the most affected by this change.

Sudheer Varma, a night shift employee working at Deloitte, shared their dismay, saying, “A midnight meal at DLF is the perfect solution after a long night at work. We do not have the energy to order in or cook by ourselves. It really is going to get hard for the next couple of weeks.”

As the situation unfolds, residents and businesses in the Gachibowli area hope that a solution can be found that balances the needs of both the community and the requirements of the upcoming elections.