Daijiworld Media Network-Bengaluru (RJP)

Bengaluru, Jun 8: The state Cabinet on Wednesday, June 8 decided to write to the union government to declare some stretches of national highways passing through cities as local roads. The move is intended to bring relief to liquor shop owners on and near national highways.

If the central government approves the state’s proposal, it can allow the liquor shops located within 500 meters of state and national highway to operate freely without facing any legal hurdles. Recently the Supreme Court order had banned the sale of liquor in these shops effective from July 1.

According to an estimate out of the 6,572 kilometres of national highways in the state, 858 kilometres pass through urban pockets, including city corporations, city municipal councils, town municipal councils and town panchayats. The state government wants these parts of highways to be declared as local roads.

The proposed plan could help 70% of the 6,018 outlets, including bar and restaurants, from being shut or relocated by July 1.