Rajasthan denotifies 21 state highways as urban roads

Jaipur, April 4 (IANS) Rajasthan has denotified around 21 state highways as urban roads apparently in a bid to circumvent the Supreme Court order on liquor sale ban within 500 metres of highways.

Though the state government officially denied it and called it a routine exercise, official sources said this will save at least 500 liquor vendors.

"We usually do this exercise and there is nothing new in it. We have only denotified roads, which are passing through villages, towns or cities and have a by-pass," Shiv Lahri Sharma, chief engineer Public Works Department told IANS.

According to government sources, excise is the major contributor to the state exchequer, which earned Rs. 6,500 crores in 2016 through excise duty.

The Congress flayed the state government’s move.

"The move is completely improper," Sachin Pilot, State President of the Congress said.

He said the move is against the apex court order, which aims at curbing road accidents.

"It should be a priority of the state government to save human lives."