Archive · 8 Aug 2026
Liquor Outlets to Shut Across Hyderabad, Cyberabad for Bonalu
People in Hyderabad are getting ready for a big festival called Bonalu.
The police have made a special rule to keep everyone safe and peaceful during the celebrations.
Shops that sell drinks like wine and toddy must stay closed on the festival day.
Bars inside restaurants must close their doors too.
However, fancy bars in big star hotels and registered private clubs can stay open.
In most places, the rule starts at 10 o'clock in the morning and ends at 10 o'clock at night.
In some areas the shops stay closed even longer.
Police officers from different parts of Hyderabad made these rules together.
They want everyone to enjoy the festival quietly and safely.
Cyberabad Police Commissioner M. Ramesh ordered wine, toddy shops and restaurant-attached bars closed on Sunday from 10 am to 10 pm for Bonalu.
The Cyberabad closure covers Kukatpally, Allapur, Raidurgam, Jeedimetla, Medchal and Chandanagar police station limits.
Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar ordered one-day closures in Rajendranagar and Golconda zones and a two-day closure in the Charminar zone starting August 9.
Future City Police Commissioner Dr. Tarun Joshi ordered liquor outlets closed from 10 am on August 9 to 6 am the following day.
Bars in star hotels and registered clubs were exempted, and the orders were issued under Section 20 of the Telangana State Excise Act, 1968.
- Who
- Cyberabad Police Commissioner M. Ramesh, Hyderabad City Police Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar and Future City Police Commissioner Dr. Tarun Joshi
- What
- Ordered the closure of wine and toddy shops and bars attached to restaurants for the Bonalu festival
- When
- Sunday, August 9; orders were announced on Friday
- Where
- Six police station limits in Cyberabad (Kukatpally, Allapur, Raidurgam, Jeedimetla, Medchal, Chandanagar), Rajendranagar, Golconda and Charminar zones in Hyderabad, and Future City commissionerate limits
- Why
- To maintain public peace and tranquillity during the Bonalu festivities, under Section 20 of the Telangana State Excise Act, 1968
Public Order & Festival Tradition
Business & Personal Choice
Temporary liquor closure during Bonalu
Public Order & Festival Tradition
Closing liquor outlets during Bonalu is necessary to maintain public peace and tranquillity and shows respect for the religious significance of the festival.
Business & Personal Choice
The closures restrict businesses and personal choice, and exempting star hotels and registered clubs creates an unequal application of the rule.
- Event
- Bonalu festival
- Issuing Authorities
- Cyberabad Commissioner M. Ramesh; Hyderabad City Commissioner V.C. Sajjanar; Future City Commissioner Dr. Tarun Joshi
- Affected Establishments
- Wine shops, toddy shops, and bars attached to restaurants
- Exemptions
- Bars in star hotels and registered clubs
- Cyberabad Closure Timing
- Sunday, 10 am to 10 pm
- Hyderabad City Closure Timing
- Aug 9, 10 am to Aug 10, 10 am (Rajendranagar, Golconda zones); Aug 9, 10 am to Aug 11, 10 am (Charminar zone)
- Future City Closure Timing
- Aug 9, 10 am to Aug 10, 6 am
- Legal Basis
- Section 20 of the Telangana State Excise Act, 1968
