Latest news with #BarPolicy
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
AP Cabinet clears free RTC bus travel for women from August 15; unveils new bar policy, power subsidies
VIJAYAWADA: The State Cabinet meeting held under the chairmanship of Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at the State Secretariat on Wednesday, took several key decisions, including the approval of the free travel for women in RTC buses from August 15. Disclosing the decisions taken by the Cabinet to mediapersons, Minister for Information and Public Relations Kolusu Parthasarathy said as part of the NDA government's Super Six promises, the Sthree Sakthi free bus travel scheme for women will be launched on August 15. All the measures have been taken to effectively implement this scheme. With a population of 5.25 crore in the State, there are 2.62 crore women. Under the scheme, women, girls and transgenders will be provided the opportunity to, travel free of charge from anywhere to anywhere in the State. Facilities have been provided to travel on Palle Velugu, Ultra Palle Velugu, City Ordinary, Express, Metro Express bus services. To avail this facility, they need to show Aadhaar, voter or ration cards as ID proof. About 74%of RTC buses, meaning 6,700 buses, will provide free travel facilities for women. The implementation of this scheme will cost Rs 162 crore per month, approximately Rs 1,942 crore per year, benefiting about 26.95 lakh people daily in the State. This year, measures have been taken to purchase an additional 3,000 electric buses, and in the next two years, another 1,400 will be purchased. Recruitment of drivers and mechanics will also be undertaken according to demand, he said. The State Cabinet approved the Bar Policy for 2025-28, which will come into force on September 1. The new policy has been formulated by examining bar policies in neighbouring States. Bars are allocated through lottery, and this method is followed only when at least four applications are received. Business hours have also been permitted from 10 am to 11 pm. Out of 840 bars, 10% have been reserved for toddy tappers at 50% fee. This licence will be in effect from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2028.
The Hindu
6 days ago
- Business
- The Hindu
Bars in Andhra Pradesh allowed to operate until 11 p.m. as Cabinet approves new policy
The Andhra Pradesh Cabinet approved the Bar Policy 2025–28, based on the recommendations made by the Cabinet Sub-Committee, on Wednesday. As part of the new policy, which will come into force after August 31, the bars in the State will remain open from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. The Cabinet also cleared a proposal to allow permit rooms, which were disbanded during the previous YSR Congress Party's (YSRCP) tenure. Disclosing the details of the Cabinet meeting, Information and Public Relations (I&PR) Minister Kolusu Parthasaradhi said that the Cabinet Sub-Committee had studied the bar policies of other States and engaged with the stakeholders before finalising its recommendations. The Bar Policy 2022–25, which is set to expire on August 31, was based on an auction system and saw the issuance of licences to 840 bars. 'The current policy led to several operational difficulties. Hence, the government decided to introduce a new bar policy to address these challenges,' said Mr. Parthasaradhi. The new policy allows bars to operate from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., offering greater flexibility for licence holders and consumers. It was noticed that more than 2.07 lakh law and order cases were registered due to open consumption of liquor. To address the issue, the Cabinet decided to allow permit rooms, with a maximum capacity of 1,000 sft, the Minister said. The newly approved policy also proposes a shift from the auction system to a lottery-based allocation, which will be implemented only in the areas where a minimum of four applications are received per bar licence available. Licensing fee The new licence period will be effective from September 1, 2025 to August 31, 2028. The application fee will be ₹5 lakh. The licence fee would be ₹35 lakh if the population is less than 50,000; ₹55 lakh if the population is between 50,000 and 5 lakh; and ₹75 lakh if the population is more than 5 lakh. At least four applications must be received for each bar. To ensure fairness and increased participation, the government is considering allocating bar licences through a lottery system, moving away from the auction method followed during the YSRCP's tenure. To promote social welfare and inclusivity, the government has reserved 10% of bar licences for toddy tappers (kallu geetha workers) at 50% of the standard fee. This measure is aimed at supporting the livelihoods of traditional workers within the excise ecosystem, the Minister added.
Time of India
02-08-2025
- Business
- Time of India
AP govt to revamp Bar Policy; new guidelines effective from Sept 1
Vijayawada: The state government is seriously contemplating a complete revamp of the existing bar policy. The new policy will come into force from Sept 1. The government has initiated negotiations with stakeholders and departments to fine-tune the revised policy. Sources indicated that the government is considering further relaxation of existing rules to facilitate the establishment of more bars across the state. The policy is also expected to promote the setting up of bars in tourism areas under liberalised conditions. Additionally, the feasibility of allowing relocation of existing bars from one area to another is being studied. With the current Bar Policy set to expire on Aug 31, the group of ministers (GoM) on excise policy convened a crucial meeting to deliberate on the framework of the upcoming Bar Policy. The meeting was conducted in hybrid mode. While excise minister Kollu Ravindra and energy minister Gottipati Ravikumar attended the meeting at the secretariat, civil supplies minister Nadendla Manohar, MSME minister Kondapalli Srinivas, and health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav participated virtually. Principal secretary (excise) Mukesh Kumar Meena briefed the GoM on representations received from key associations, including the AP State Wine Dealers Association, AP Star Hotels Association, and the AP Hotels Association. He outlined historical sales trends, previous bar disposal methods, and the financial implications of various proposed policy models, focusing on revenue impact and operational feasibility. Director of Prohibition and Excise Nishant Kumar delivered a detailed presentation on the current Bar Policy (2022–25). He discussed the license disposal system, annual license fees, and bar-to-population ratios. Currently, about 840 standalone bars and 50 establishments in star hotels and microbreweries are operating under the policy. It was noted that 44 bar licenses were not renewed during the current policy period. He also presented a comparative analysis of bar policies in Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Kerala. Civil Supplies Minister Nadendla Manohar sought updates on the implementation of the current shop policy and its possible implications for bar operations. Health Minister Satya Kumar Yadav recommended that the tourism department be consulted to strengthen tourism linkages in the new policy. MSME Minister Kondapalli Srinivas emphasized the need to encourage new entrepreneurs to enter the food and beverages sector. Energy minister Gottipati Ravikumar highlighted the growing need to consider bar relocations in light of expanding industrial corridors across the state. "The excise department will incorporate suggestions from the ministers to further refine the draft policy. A revised proposal will be prepared before the final Bar Policy is approved and notified," said a senior official. The meeting was also attended by Enforcement director Rahul Dev Sharma, additional commissioner M Deva Kumar, joint commissioners and other senior officials from the excise department. Get the latest lifestyle updates on Times of India, along with Friendship Day wishes , messages and quotes !
