Stock up as liquor shops to remain shut in Noida on Holi

Date:

2 min readMar 3, 2026 08:22 PM IST

All liquor and excise-licensed establishments in Gautam Buddha Nagar will remain closed on Wednesday on account of Holi, district authorities announced on Tuesday.

According to an official statement, the District Magistrate has ordered the closure under Section 59 of Chapter 9 of the United Provinces Excise Act, 1910, to ensure peace and maintain law and order on Holi.

“The order applies to all country liquor shops, composite shops, retail cannabis outlets, premium retail vends and model shops operating under various categories including FL-6, FL-7, FL-9, 9A, 40, 41 and 49. Military and paramilitary canteens, wholesale license holders under CL-2, FL-2, 2A and 2B categories, pharmacies, BIO-1/0 units, bond licences and all other excise-licensed establishments across the district will also remain shut on March 4, 2026,” the order, issued on Tuesday, read.

Officials said the closure would be effective for the entire day, adding: “No compensation will be payable to any licensee for the mandated shutdown.”

They also said that the step was taken as a precautionary measure to prevent any untoward incidents and to facilitate the peaceful celebration of Holi across the district.

Rahul Singh, the CEO of The Beer Cafe — which has six outlets in Noida — said: “This has become the norm…the administration or the government [does this whenever] they want it and we are never compensated.”

“Most of our cafes are inside malls and since the malls remain closed on account of the festival, it does not affect us. But those running thekas (small retail outlets) seem to get more affected,” Singh told The Indian Express.

Neetika Jha is a Correspondent with The Indian Express, based in the Noida bureau. She primarily covers crime, health, and environmental issues, as well as human-interest features across Noida, Ghaziabad, and Western Uttar Pradesh.

Professional Profile
Education: She is an alumna of the Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), Chennai.

Core Beat: Her work focuses on the administrative and social challenges of the NCR’s satellite cities. She is known for her detailed reporting on civic infrastructure (like the Noida International Airport), environmental violations, and high-profile criminal investigations.

Personal Interests: Outside of reporting, she is an avid reader of fiction (citing The Thursday Murder Club and Yellowface as recent favorites) and a gardening enthusiast.

Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025)
Neetika’s recent reportage has been dominated by winter-related crises in the NCR and significant criminal legalities:

1. Environment & Public Safety
“Greater Noida Authority slaps fines on firms for violating GRAP IV norms” (Dec 21, 2025): Reporting on heavy penalties imposed on major developers like NBCC for flouting anti-pollution construction bans.

“Fatal pile-up on Yamuna Expressway: Fog, high speed emerge as key safety risks” (Dec 17, 2025): A major report on a 15-vehicle collision caused by dense fog that killed 17 people.

“At Chilla, Kalindi, DND, many fined Rs 20,000 for non-compliance to Delhi’s BS-VI rule” (Dec 19, 2025): On-the-ground reporting from the borders where Noida police penalize non-compliant vehicles entering the capital.

“Driving in Noida amid fog? New speed limits in effect till Feb 15” (Dec 13, 2025): Detailing the seasonal traffic restrictions aimed at preventing highway accidents.

2. Crime & Legal Developments
“‘Have you ever heard of a murder case being withdrawn?’: Court in Akhlaq lynching case” (Dec 12, 2025): Covering a critical courtroom hearing where the court questioned the UP government’s petition to withdraw charges against the accused.

“After losing money in stock market, bank employee in Ghaziabad withdraws Rs 64 lakh from customers’ accounts” (Dec 14, 2025): An investigative piece on internal bank fraud and the risks of modern digital embezzlement.

“Woman shot dead by partner in Noida: Three days on, accused still on the run” (Dec 2, 2025): Tracking a high-profile domestic violence and murder case in Central Noida.

3. Human Interest & Features
“‘Had tears in my eyes’: Army men walk bride down the aisle 20 years after father died in terror attack” (Dec 2, 2025): A moving story about soldiers from a Punjab Grenadiers unit fulfilling a father’s duty for his daughter.

“How a Zepto delivery man heard a cry — and saved two kids dumped in Noida drain” (Dec 2025): A viral human-interest story highlighting individual heroism in the city.

Signature Style

Neetika is recognized for her meticulous follow-up on local tragedies. Whether it is a massive pile-up on the Yamuna Expressway or the ongoing construction of the Jewar (Noida) Airport, she focuses on systemic lapses and the safety of commuters. Her crime reporting often explores the psychological motives behind “crimes of passion” and the rising trend of financial cyber-fraud in the Ghaziabad-Noida belt. … Read More

Stay updated with the latest – Click here to follow us on Instagram

© The Indian Express Pvt Ltd

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here

Share post:

Subscribe

spot_imgspot_img

Popular

More like this
Related

Why Europe's leaders have struggled to speak as one on Iran

European nations say they want to work better together...

Heartbreaking videos of Andaman Islands’ garbage piles spark outrage

3 min readNew DelhiMar 3, 2026 09:54 PM IST Mohit...

समाहरणालय में 18 शिक्षकों व दो कर्मियों को विदाई

रांची| मंजूनाथ भजंत्री की अध्यक्षता में समाहरणालय के कॉन्फ्रेंस...
Join Us WhatsApp