Residents of Kagithapattarai in Vellore are urging authorities to move three Tasmac liquor outlets away from the Christian Medical College campus. Unruly behaviour of drinkers and parked two‑wheelers are disrupting traffic and endangering public safety.
In the Kagithapattarai neighbourhood of Vellore, locals have formally asked for the removal of three Tasmac‑licensed liquor shops that sit close to the Women Nursing College of Christian Medical College (CMC). The outlets occupy a corner at the intersection of Arcot Road and Kagithapattarai, just off National Highway 48 – a critical corridor for school vans, government buses, ambulances and private two‑wheelers.
Ground Realities
Residents report that inebriated patrons loiter around the shops, block two‑wheelers in haphazard parking, and sometimes engage in petty fights. R. Priya, a resident, says pedestrians – especially students and senior citizens – avoid the stretch because of the constant presence of tipplers, while ambulances struggle to navigate the congested lane.
Community Grievances
Beyond traffic snarls, the shops have become a hotspot for occasional assaults and drunken disturbances that spill onto the road, hampering vehicle movement. The three outlets are also situated near a temple, a mosque and a government middle school, intensifying tensions between the liquor trade and nearby cultural‑religious institutions.
Government Response
In May, Chief Minister C. Joseph Vijay ordered the closure of 717 Tasmac outlets that were within 500 metres of places of worship, educational institutions, and bus stands across Tamil Nadu. Following that directive, several identified shops were shut down. Tasmac officials now say that, based on resident complaints, additional outlets in Vellore district are being earmarked for relocation to isolated sites after a safety assessment.
Wider Implications
Currently, Tamil Nadu hosts 385 Tasmac outlets spread across Vellore, Ranipet, Tirupattur and Tiruvannamalai districts – with Tiruvannamalai alone accounting for 206 shops. After the chief minister’s order, 32 outlets have been permanently closed in these districts. If the Kagithapattarai petition succeeds, it could set a precedent for a more stringent, community‑driven review of liquor‑store placements throughout the state.
