Chandigarh after midnight: From chai to pizza, a city learning to stay awake

Chandigarh may have secured permission to stay awake, but the city’s businesses are discovering that staying open through the night is another matter altogether. Nearly two years after the administration launched its 24×7 commercial operations initiative, almost 200 establishments are now on the list: from McDonald’s, pizza outlets, and chai counters to pharmacies, grocery stores, paan shops, and petrol pumps.

The number of establishments opting for 24×7 operations has risen more than threefold from the initial 48. “We are encouraging people to register for 24×7 commercial operations under ease of doing business in the city.

Women’s safety and adherence to labour laws are two key aspects under this initiative, which we are fully ensuring by coordinating with the department concerned, including the Chandigarh Police,” Nishant Yadav, Deputy Commissioner, told The Indian Express.

The list of nearly 200 establishments paints a picture of a city trying to build a late-night economy that goes well beyond traditional nightlife. Major fast-food chains feature prominently. McDonald’s, KFC, Domino’s, Pizza Hut and Subway have multiple outlets listed for 24×7 operations across sectors including 8-C, 15-C, 22, 35-C, 40-C, 47-C, Manimajra and the Industrial Area.

Tea, too, has found a place in the city’s round-the-clock experiment. Chai Sutta Bar, along with Punjabi Chai, Desi Urban Chai, and Audi Chaiwala, features on the list, adding a distinctly local flavour to the late-night food economy.

Desserts and quick-service outlets are also part of the mix, with establishments such as Baskin Robbins, Theobroma Foods, The Belgian Waffle Co and Superdonuts among those listed. One neighbourhood that repeatedly stands out is Sector 8-B.

Its 24×7 establishments span a wide range of food options, from Baba Chicken, World of Wings and Tikka World to The Belgian Waffle Co, Cakes & Stuff, Superdonuts and El Mexicano. The concentration suggests that Sector 8-B could emerge as one of the city’s more prominent late-night food clusters — provided there is enough customer demand to sustain these operations.

The 24×7 list also points to a broader night-time economy. Grocery and convenience stores, pharmacies and delivery-related establishments have also opted for round-the-clock operations. Blink Commerce has several establishments listed across sectors including 17-B, 34-A and 37-D, while Chandigarh Pharmacy in Sector 11-D is among the pharmacies on the list.

Even paan shops and petrol pumps feature. DP Paan House in Sector 15-D, Pandey Paan and Confectioner in Sector 8-C and Nankhu Pan & Confectionery in Sector 44-D have submitted undertakings for round-the-clock operations.

Indian Oil outlets in sectors 7 and 33 and a Bharat Petroleum outlet in Sector 21 are also on the list. Taken together, the entries suggest that Chandigarh’s 24×7 experiment is evolving from an attempt to keep a few essential or high-demand businesses open into a wider after-midnight commercial ecosystem.

The bigger question, however, is whether the growing list of establishments translates into a sustainable late-night economy.