The special permission that allowed shopping malls, markets, and shops to remain open until 10 PM for the Durga Puja festival has expired. Consequently, starting Friday (October 23), these establishments must revert to the previous schedule, operating from 11 AM to 8 PM. This effectively shifts the closing time two hours earlier.
To conserve electricity and ensure efficient power management, the government has adjusted the operating hours for shops and markets several times this year. In line with this, the Power Division had granted permission on October 5 for shops to remain open until 10 PM through October 22, in observance of Durga Puja.
Under the Power Division’s directive, shopping malls, markets, and shops across the country were permitted to operate from 11 AM to 10 PM during that period. The directive further specified that, effective October 23, these establishments would be required to return to the earlier schedule of 11 AM to 8 PM.
With the expiration of the special permission, the previous schedule has come back into effect as of Friday. Therefore, shopping malls, markets, and shops must now close by 8 PM.
