In a move that would facilitate the opening of new bars and ensure smooth functioning of the existing ones, the State Cabinet on Wednesday decided to denotify certain stretches of the State Highways, including bypass roads, that pass through city corporations or municipalities.
The denotification of these roads will be carried out by amending the Kerala Highway Protection Act, 1999. After denotification, the ownership of the State Highways will be transferred to the respective local body as the case may be since it was felt that it would be appropriate to include the municipalities in the maintenance of roads.
Though the official post-Cabinet statement does mention the main objective behind the decision, it is clear that the amendment is being brought in to circumvent the Supreme Court verdict that imposed a bar on functioning liquor bars and outlets within 500 metres of State and National Highways. The decision, according to one estimate, will facilitate reopening of at least 120 beer and wine parlours. Of these 120, at least 70 that qualify as three-star category can be upgraded as liquor bars. It would also facilitate the opening of more liquor outlets too.
PMC takeover
As part of the move to take over the Pariyaram Medical College (PMC), the Cabinet approved the Finance Department’s proposal to repay loan arrears of over ₹250 crore to Housing & Urban Development Corporation (Hudco). The decision is to repay the amounts in instalments before March 31, 2019.
The government had earlier appointed a committee to examine the pros and cons of taking over the medical college. The official statement said that the committee had recommended reorganising the cooperative structure of the college as an autonomous institutions like the Regional Cancer Centre. The decision to clear the Hudco dues has been taken as part of the procedures of takeover.
KIIFB projects
The Cabinet cleared two proposals – the ₹140-crore second phase of the Life Science Park, promoted by the Kerala State Industrial Development Corporation, and purchase of 900 diesel buses – through the Kerala Industrial Infrastructure Fund Board route.
It also gave administrative sanction to carrying out pre-pilgrimage season maintenance of the roads leading to Sabarimala.
