Haryana Polls: 48-Hour 'Dry Day' In Noida, Greater Noida And Other Border Districts From Saturday Evening

Liquor outlets in areas bordering Haryana, including Noida and Greater Noida, will remain closed from October 19 to 21. The 48-hour dry period will also be in effect in several districts of Delhi, Punjab and Rajasthan close to Haryana border. The shops will shut down on Saturday evening and re-open at the conclusion of polling. The voting for Haryana state assembly will take place on October 21.

In view of the security arrangements during the elections and as per the directives of the Election Commission of India, the governments of Punjab and Rajasthan have issued orders to declare a dry day in the border areas of Haryana for 48 hours ending with the hour fixed for conclusion of poll. Similar orders have also be soon issued by Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Delhi, and Chandigarh governments.

In Uttar Pradesh, the twin-cities of Noida and Greater Noida, part of Gautam Buddh Nagar district which shares a border with Haryana will witness the same restrictions.

According to an order issued by District Magistrate Brajesh Narain Singh, all liquor outlets in Gautam Buddh Nagar falling in 8-km radius of Haryana will shut shops at 6 pm on October 19.

"Assembly elections in Haryana are due on October 21 and hence liquor shops in Gautam Buddh Nagar will be shut down 48 hours prior to it, that is October 19. The liquor outlets within 8 km radius of Haryana border will also remain shut on the day of vote counting, which is October 24," the order stated.