Thiruvananthapuram: Facilitating the reopening of over 400 more liquor outlets, the state cabinet on Wednesday decided to denotify the highways within the limits of corporation and municipalities. It was in the wake of the Supreme Court upholding the Chandigarh administration’s decision to denotify highways that the state cabinet also altered its earlier stand not to denotify the highways. Sources said that about 400 liquor outlets, including 350-odd beer and wine parlours, about ten bars and ten clubs and 20 retail outlets of the Beverages Corporation were likely to benefit from the fresh decision. A number of beer and wine parlours in three-star hotels also hope to get bar licence. About 100 toddy shops may be able to resume function.
Six states have already denotified the highways after the Supreme Court imposed restriction on liquor outlets within 500 metres from either side of the highways.
Though this was challenged in the Supreme Court, it refused to stay it. Subsequently the state also initiated steps in this regard. An official press note issued by the government said that the decision to denotify the highways was taken to ensure the involvement of local bodies in maintenance of these roads. The PWD will denotify the highways by invoking the provisions of the Kerala Highway Protection Act and notify the stretches as city roads or major district roads.
