No wine shops along highways in Maharashtra: Minister

MUMBAI: Maharashtra government has asked district collectors to remove wine shops along highways and stop issuance of new licenses, Excise Minister Ganesh Naik told the legislative assembly today.

The action follows guidelines received in March from the central government, Naik said.

"The district administrations have also been asked not to issue licenses for opening new shops," the minister said in a written reply to a query by Kisan Kathore (NCP) and others.

Collectors were directed to furnish information about such shops to the government in June 2013 and to take appropriate action in this regard, he added.

Union Ministry of Road Transport and Highways had directed all state governments to shift liquor shops as they have been leading to accidents arising out of the drunken driving, Kathore said.