Government to remove liquor shops from National Highways in India

The Indian government finally seems taking the issue of road accidents seriously. A large number of fatalities and people injured has been attributed to drunken driving and riding.  

In the wake of the increasing number of road accidents due to drunken driving, Chief Secretaries /Principal Secretaries/Secretaries (Transport) of all States/Union Territories have been told to ensure that no license is issued to liquor vendors along National Highways. State Governments have also been asked to review cases and to take corrective action wherever a license had already been given for liquor vendors along National Highways. 

The chairman of the National Highway Authority of India (NHAI) has also asked all chief secretaries to remove liquor shops on National  Highways and not to allow new liquor vendor in future. This information was given by the Minister of State for Road Transport & Highways, Pon. Radhakrishnan in a written reply to a question in the Lok Sabha yesterday. 

The total number of road accidents, persons killed and injured due to intake of alcohol on all roads in the country during the last three calendar years from 2013 to 2015 IS given below:

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