The Tamil Nadu government has decided to extend the contracts of privately operated bars attached to Tamil Nadu State Marketing Corporation (TASMAC) liquor outlets by two months. This move allows thousands of bars across the state to reopen starting Tuesday after being closed for a period. The decision was made during a high-level meeting chaired by the minister concerned at the Secretariat in Chennai on Monday.
The government’s resolution includes granting a temporary two-month extension to current bar operators while commencing the process for inviting fresh tenders for the upcoming contract period. The previous contracts, typically renewed every two years, had expired, leading to the closure of TASMAC bars from July 2. Following representations from the Bar Owners’ Association, the government agreed to extend the contracts, citing financial losses that an abrupt closure would cause to operators and employees.
The Bar Owners’ Association confirmed the government’s decision to extend the contracts for two months, allowing all bars attached to TASMAC outlets to resume operations from Tuesday. Concurrently, TASMAC is intensifying its scrutiny of bar licensing and regulatory compliance across Tamil Nadu. The corporation is verifying the legal status of buildings housing bars amid complaints of establishments operating without valid planning approvals.
With the temporary extension in place, the government aims to complete the fresh tender process within the next two months while ensuring compliance with licensing and safety norms at TASMAC-linked bars throughout Tamil Nadu.
