With the State gearing up to implement the Supreme Court’s order banning the sale of alcohol along national and state highways, the excise department has sought a clarification from the Public Works Department (PWD) on whether bypasses are part of national highways.
PANAJI
This is crucial for implementing the order, because if bypasses are indeed part of national highways, then old stretches of roads which cut across major towns will no longer be considered as part of national highways.
In Mapusa, for instance, a bypass was built several years ago on NH-17 from Karaswada to Hotel Green Park. At the same time, the old stretch of the road, which some people also consider as the national highway from Karaswada to Duler, to the main town Mapusa and Guirim, also exists.
There are many other such cases also. For example, a bypass was constructed at Goa Velha along NH-17, while earlier the highway stretched from Goa Velha to Agassaim Market. There’s another bypass on NH-17 in Verna, while the earlier the highway stretched from Pirni junction to Fr Agnelo junction.
It is in such cases that the excise commissioner, Menino D’Souza confirmed that he has sought a clarification from PWD whether the bypass is part of NH, and whether the old road is still considered part of the highway.
Depending upon which road is declared as NH, liquor businesses along it and within 500 metres from its boundary will have to be shut from April 1 in adherence to the apex court’s order. But, the problem is even more complicated, as there are bypasses which are still under construction.
For example, the old stretch of national highway that cuts across Margao has a number of business establishments along it selling alcohol, but a bypass is also under construction.
The excise department has written to PWD to clarify that which part, whether the old national highway cutting across Margao or the bypass under construction, should be considered as the national highway to implement the SC order.
Similarly, a bypass is under construction at Canacona as well, and PWD’s clarification is sought on that regard also.
