No more tipsy driving on Maharashtra highways

Aiming to prevent accidents due to drunken driving, the Maharashtra government Wednesday directed all district collectorates to provide details of bars in the vicinity of highways.

The information will be used to take action against those who do not comply with the norms, Excise Minister Ganesh Naik told the state assembly.

Naik added that the state government's move comes in the wake of the March 2013 guidelines issued by the central government in this regard.

Officials said that of the total 12,000-plus bars along various state and national highways criss-crossing the state, around 4,500 may be transgressing the distance limit from the road prescribed by the centre.

As per norms, such bars must be minimum 37.50 metres away from the highway, though those falling within the municipal limits of any town or city may not be affected.

Last March, parliament was informed that in 24,655 accidents caused by drunk drivers, there were a staggering 10,553 deaths.

Even within municipal limits of major cities like Mumbai, Thane, Pune, Nagpur, Aurangabad and Nashik, there have been many instances of drunk driving leading to fatalities.