Liquor Lobby Forces Karnataka Govt to Urge Centre to Denotify NHs Pass Through Urban Areas

Bengaluru: Karnataka state government has decided to send a proposal to the union government seeking to denotify the national highways (NH) pass through urban local bodies in Karnataka as local roads. According to a state cabinet decision the NHs pass through town panchayat, city corporations and other local bodies would be denotified to declare them as local roads to maintain them in a better manner.

Karnataka state has national highways having 6572 kilometer length and out of which 858 kilometer passes through towns and cities in the state. If a portion of NHs having 858 kilometer length denotified as local roads, then it could help to prevent shutdown of around 70% of bars in the state. If the union government approves the proposal from the state then, around 70% of beverage outlets will get relief from their closure.

The decision to denotify the NHs came following recent Apex Court order which asked to shut all liquor shops located within 500 meter way from highways. According to the reports, liquor lobby forced the state government to form and send the proposal to centre for approval.