Nagpur: Nearly two years after residents of Bansi Nagar launched a campaign against a country liquor shop near the Metro station, the outlet has finally been shut following directions from the Nagpur bench of the Bombay High Court.For residents, the closure marks the end of a prolonged legal battle and raises hopes of restoring normalcy in the neighbourhood. Advocate Kalyani Kalbande, representing the petitioner, told TOI that the collector issued the closure order on June 27, following which the shop was shut on June 29.The High Court held that the regularisation (RL) granted to the premises had lapsed as mandatory conditions were not fulfilled. It directed the Nagpur collector to take consequential action and submit a compliance report by June 30. The divisional bench of Justices Anil Kilor and Raj Wakode also sought an explanation from the excise department for its nearly year-long delay in acting despite being aware of the violation.According to the collector’s order, the excise licence has been suspended and the outlet will remain closed until the premises are regularised by the competent authority or the licence is shifted to another location. The order also directs the excise department to ensure the shop does not resume operations during this period.Since 2024, TOI has consistently reported residents’ complaints that the outlet had become a hub for public drinking. Locals alleged intoxicated patrons often sprawled on roads, sometimes semi-clothed or unconscious, creating an atmosphere of insecurity. Women avoided the stretch after dark, parents feared for children walking to school, and families visiting a nearby children’s hospital were forced to pass through crowds of drunken customers.“The fight was never against a liquor shop alone; it was about restoring safety and dignity to our neighbourhood,” said resident Ravi Yelure, who has spearheaded the campaign for nearly two years. He pointed out that the locality, beneath the Bansi Nagar Metro station, is surrounded by residential buildings, schools, temples and a children’s hospital, while two wine shops already operate nearby, making an additional liquor outlet unnecessary.Welcoming the closure, Yelure urged the administration to ensure it is permanent. “The shop has been closed before, only to reopen later. We hope this time the issue is resolved once and for all. Residents should not have to fight the same battle again,” he said.
