Majority of liquor shops located near the main shopping areas and other locations in Nellore city could not reopen in the past two days as their present locations were found to be in violation of the guideline that there should be 500 metres distance from the State and the National Highways.
One of the old cities, Nellore has got one NH, two bypass national highways and five State Highways.
Prior to the new excise policy, there were nearly six liquor shops and bars in the landmark VRC College Centre in the heart of the city and these are now not being allowed as a State Highway is passing through the area.
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The same is the problem with regard to the shops located in other areas also considering the fact that the city has expanded along and between national highways, bypass highways and State highways which are running closely parallel with less than 500 metres distance at many points.
As a consequence of this, only a handful of shops were permitted to reopen and there have been crowds being witnessed at these outlets right from morning hours.
Officials of the Excise Department have come under a lot of pressure to somehow give exemptions but they are strictly asking for the compliance of the distance guideline.
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Initially, there was some confusion regarding the designation of the arterial Grand Trunk Road on either side of which the city has developed over the decades. It was later found that this highway was redesignated as a major district road (MDR), which facilitated the permissions to be given to the shops here.
However, at some points, the Trunk Road was found very closer to State highways like the Podalakuru Road and Muthukuru Road.
“This kind of a problem has not been reported anywhere in the State. It is causing problems to the licensees but there is no way the existing guidelines have to be strictly adhered to,” said a senior officer of the Excise Department.
In some other towns which are allocated smart city projects, the Central government is learnt to have redesignated the highways passing through those towns as smart city roads. This nomenclature has helped licensees in those towns to get immediate permissions.
As of now, only 50 shops were given permission in the Nellore excise district which includes Nellore city. There are 190 more shops to be given permission still.
Seeing the complications involved, the licensees are now starting to find safe locations and erect temporary structures to begin their shops early.