Relief for excise staff as midnight bar visits scrapped in AP

Vijayawada: In a big relief to the excise personnel, the state govt relaxed a rule that required constables to physically visit bars at midnight to confirm closure and upload photographs on the Excise Eye app. Until now, excise staff had to ensure that bars were shut after 12 midnight by visiting the premises and uploading photo evidence daily. The requirement often forced constables to travel late at night, leading to safety and logistical concerns.Under the revised guidelines, excise personnel can now verify bar closures through alternative methods such as CCTV footage or video calls with bar staff, eliminating the need for physical visits at odd hours.The decision comes in the wake of a tragic incident in Visakhapatnam district, where an excise head constable, Simhachalam Naidu, lost his life in a road accident while returning after completing midnight inspection duties. The incident highlighted the risks involved in enforcing the earlier rule.Responding to appeals from employee unions, authorities issued orders easing the requirement. Excise minister Kollu Ravindra assured full support to the bereaved family. He directed officials to provide immediate financial assistance of ₹10 lakh from the department and facilitate additional support of about ₹1.10 crore through an SBI insurance scheme. The minister also announced that one eligible member of the deceased constable's family would be offered a govt job on compassionate grounds.