Karnataka waters down highway liquor ban

Bengaluru: To circumvent a Supreme Court ban on the sale of liquor 500 metres from both state and national highways, the state cabinet on Wednesday decided to denotify 858 km stretch of national highways passing  through city limits across the state. 

The state cabinet on Wednesday took the decision to denotify national highways and reclassify them as local city roads. This would take nearly 60-70 percent of bar owners and star hotels in the city limits out of the rule’s ambit. As per the cabinet decision, national highways passing through City Corporations, City Municipalities, Town Municipalities and Town Panchayats, will be excluded from the National Highways tag. According to sources in the government, of the 6,572 km stretch of national highways, 858 km passing through city limits will be excluded from the tag. Many star hotels and bar and restaurants in two tier cities will be benefited if the Centre gives node to the state request. Sources said that many states have already taken a decision to denotify both state and national highways in city limits.