Liquor ban: State cabinet seeks Centre's nod to denotify highways

Bengaluru: The state Cabinet on Wednesday decided to denotify stretches of highways coming under the limits of urban civic bodies in the state thereby providing succor to the thousands of liquor shop owners who have now less than a month to abide with the apex court order and relocate their shops.

As for national highways, the state has written to the Centre to declare some stretches of national highways passing through cities as maintained by local urban authorities.

If the Centre accords its approval to the state’s proposal it will provide a new lease of life to the liquor shop owners who were left high and dry after the Supreme Court order banning sale of liquor within 500 metres of state and national highways apart from safeguarding the revenue loss the state government would suffer if these shops are shut.

The proposed plan could help 70% of the 6,018 outlets, including bar and restaurants, from being shut or relocated by July 1, the day on which the Supreme Court order comes into effect in Karnataka, the sources added.