Bangalore: Party animals in Bangalore are cheering, New Year's Eve this year will be extra rocking.

The decision of city police Commissioner Shankar Bidari to grant "special" permission, allowing all hotels, eating joints, restaurants and bars in Bangalore to remain open till 1 a.m. on the night of Dec 31 has been welcomed.

Bangalore is also known as India's Pub City for introducing pub culture in the country, with large numbers of swanky and not so swanky watering holes dotting the city's landscape. However, unfortunately on normal days, Bangaloreans cannot enjoy their drink after 11.30 p.m.

Bars in Bangalore are required to close down by 11.30 p.m. every day, as per the provisions of the Karnataka Excise Act, Rules and Licence Conditions, whereas eating establishments in Bangalore are required to close down at midnight. "It's a good step forward," Ashish Kothare, president of Bangalore's Association of Bar and Restaurants, Pub and Hotels, a body of some 32 upscale night clubs, bars and pubs, told the media.

Kothare said hotels, eating joints and restaurants situated within the limits of Bangalore city would be permitted to remain open for an extra hour so that New Year celebrations can go on in the first hour of Jan 1.