Hyderabad: The Telangana state government’s implementation of Supreme Court orders banning liquor shops and bars within 100 metres of state or national highways has triggered a controversy.
The excise department has been issuing notices even to prominent hotels and clubs located in the core areas of the city citing that they are close to highways. These hotels and clubs are seeking exemption.
Five star and three star hotels in city such as Hotel Marriott, Central Court and Secunderabad Club were issued notices not to serve liquor.
Nearly 70 out of a total 220 hotels, bars, shops in GHMC limits were issued notices.
However, managements of hotels, bars and wine shops term the decision of excise department treating roads passing through the city core as “highways” as “irrational and illogical”.
“How can the excise department treat roads passing through heavy traffic density areas like RP Road, SD Road, Abids, Nampally, Lakdikapul, Mehdipatnam, Afzalgunj, Malaket, Amberpet, Kharkhana, Bowenpally, Tarnaka etc., as highways?” asked D.Venkateshwara Rao, president, TS Wine Dealers’ Association.
