Providing significant relief to bar and restaurant owners under a special scheme, the Excise Department has announced that these establishments may now remain open until late at night, provided owners pay an additional annual fee of ₹25 lakh. A large number of bar and restaurant owners were present today at a meeting held at the Excise Department headquarters, presided over by Assistant Commissioner Dilbagh Singh Cheema. Representing the department, District Excise Officer Lalit Kumar and Inspector Dharvinder Pal Sharma were in attendance.
In this regard, Dilbagh Singh Cheema and Lalit Kumar explained that, under previous regulations, bars located within areas falling under the Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction were permitted to remain open only until 1:00 AM. Conversely, bars situated outside the Municipal Corporation limits—within a radius of up to 5 kilometers—were permitted to operate only until 12:00 midnight. However, by paying an additional annual tax of ₹25 lakh, establishments located both within the Municipal Corporation limits and in the outer 5-kilometer radius will now be granted permission to remain open until 3:00 AM.
**2-Kilometer Exemption Extended to Small Towns**
Officials further stated that the department has also outlined specific schemes for bar owners in smaller towns and areas (governed by local committees)—outside the Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction—who wish to obtain permission to keep their bars open until late at night. District Excise Officer Lalit Kumar confirmed that, in these smaller areas as well, the payment of an additional tax of ₹25 lakh will be required.
