165 liquor outlets closed in Mysuru

However, licences of 330 outlets were renewed as they were nowhere near highways

In all, 165 pubs and bars coming within 500 meters of national and State highways in the district were shut down on Saturday.

This is consequent to the Supreme Court order banning the sale of liquor within 500 meters of national and State highways with effect from July 1.

District Excise Deputy Commissioner Jagadish Naik said of around 495 bars and restaurants in the district, licences of 330 outlets were renewed as they were nowhere near the highways (State or national).

As a result of this move, some of the popular restaurants located on the Mysuru-Hunsur highway have suspended the sale of liquor though they will remain open but the establishments expect a dip in revenue.

With regard to the scores of pubs and bars along the Outer Ring Road, which was recently handed over by the Mysuru Urban Development Authority (MUDA) to the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) for maintenance, Mr.Naik said the ORR is yet to be notified as a NH and hence the apex court directive does not apply to it. “The Supreme Court directive will become applicable once the ORR stretch is also notified (as NH) by the NHAI. Till then, the bars will continue to ply as usual,” he added.

MUDA recently handed over 37.22 km of the 41.535 km ORR to NHAI for maintenance as it intersects NHs at six junctions.

Besides, the ORR itself was completed by spending nearly ₹322.20 crore and the MUDA was cash-strapped for maintenance and hence thought it fit to transfer the road to NHAI.