A Supreme Court ruling on selling alcohol on national highways has now threatened at least 600 wine stores and bar and restaurants in the City, including some of those located in the tony areas of M.G. Road, and Brigade Road, Indiranagar and Koramangala.
All was well till June 20 till the time bar and wine store owners thought the Supreme Court rule could not affect them since they were in the central business district. A report sent to the deputy commissioners of excise of various zones on June 20, however, changed this. Suddenly these 600 and odd establishments, which fall within 500 m of the national highways are now facing threat of closure from July 1.
Sources said that according to the circular from the Public Works Department, the National Highway 7 (Ballari Road via Mekhri Circle) and National Highway 4 (via M.G. Road and Old Madras Road) start from the General Post Office (GPO), in the heart of the City, have not been re classified as municipal roads.
While about 120 establishments are set to be affected in East Zone, that includes Indiranagar, about 150 establishments will be affected in the South Zone, including those in Koramangala. Both zones host some of the most popular watering holes in the city. Similarly, establishments will be affected in other zones too, a senior officer, on condition of anonymity said, adding that the numbers could be at least 600. "With the PWD report coming in now, we have started ascertaining the exact number."
