Post-blast restrictions upset patrons of popular FC Road restaurants
Post-blast restrictions upset patrons of popular FC Road restaurants
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Since the German Bakery blast, the police have been on the alert, with special focus on restaurants. Ten popular eating joints have been identified for heightened security.
The upshot of it all for two popular south Indian eateries on Fergusson College Road, Roopali and Vaishali, is that no-parking signs have been put up outside them, leaving customers with two-wheelers unhappy.
It seems the police do not want a crowd outside these restaurants.
Big bother
A retired professor, Avinash Marathe, who visits Roopali every morning for coffee, said, "It is an inconvenience for all of us. They should reduce area for car parking that is just 100 metres away, and allow us to park there," said Marathe. "But they are refusing to entertain our demands."
There is a similar demand from patrons of Vaishali.
The parking area in front of these two restaurants is now laid with curved cement blocks that bar vehicle entry.
Pradip Shetty, manager of Roopali, said, "Due to the German Bakery blast, the police have asked us to avoid crowding outside the restaurant, and that is why parking of vehicles is not allowed."
A security guard outside the restaurant said, "The decision is badly affecting business as many customers who park their vehicles and wait till they get parcels have started avoiding the restaurant."
Shetty declined to comment on the issue, only saying, "We can not help it. It's a police order."
API Sarode of Deccan traffic division said, "The decision has not been taken by the traffic division."
Police view
DCP Dnyneshawar Phadtare (Zone I) said, "These two restaurants are iconic places where there is a big crowd throughout the day. As precautionary measures, we have taken this decision to avoid crowding outside them."
Manager of Vaishali, M S Shetty, said, "It is affecting our business slightly, but after all the police have asked us to so this for our own safety, and so we are adhering to it."
Police sources said there was an intelligence input that called for the police to ensure there was no crowding near the two joints on FC Road.
DCP Phadtare said, "I can not comment on this."
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