Hyderabad: Liquor shops, toddy outlets and eligible bars across the Hyderabad, Malkajgiri and Cyberabad police commissionerates will remain closed for 24 hours on September 25 and 26 in view of the final Ganesh idol immersion processions. The dry day will come into effect at 6 am on Friday, September 25, 2026, and continue until 6 am on Saturday, September 26. Police authorities have directed liquor retailers and other covered establishments to comply strictly with the closure orders, warning that violations will invite action.
The temporary liquor ban has been imposed as part of the security and law-and-order arrangements for the large-scale Ganesh immersion proceedings in Hyderabad and surrounding areas. The restrictions cover wine and toddy shops as well as bars attached to restaurants in the notified areas. Bars located in star hotels and registered clubs have been excluded from the closure order in the concerned commissionerates.
The final immersion procession is expected to draw large crowds, prompting Hyderabad Police to deploy more than 20,000 personnel across key routes and sensitive locations. Police have also integrated more than 10,000 CCTV cameras with the Telangana State Integrated Command and Control Centre, while 24 drones and nearly 100 high-rise cameras are being used for crowd and procession monitoring.
Women’s safety is also a major focus of the security arrangements. SHE Teams have been deployed in multiple shifts to monitor crowded areas and prevent harassment and other offences against women. Hyderabad Police said the teams would use video documentation and other surveillance measures to identify violations and initiate legal action where required. Reports said SHE Teams had already apprehended hundreds of people during the festival period for alleged indecent behaviour in crowded locations.
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Police have also intensified security checks at railway stations, bus terminals, shopping malls and major entry points into the city. Bomb detection teams, specialised crime teams, plainclothes personnel, rescue boats and trained divers have been deployed as part of the wider arrangements for the immersion day.
Authorities have appealed to Ganesh festival organisers, devotees and residents to cooperate with the police, follow traffic and safety instructions and maintain peace during the immersion processions. Police have also warned against harassment of women, provocative or vulgar content, dangerous stunts and other activities that could disrupt public order during the festivities.
The September 25-26 liquor closure in Hyderabad is therefore part of a broader security plan aimed at managing the large crowds and maintaining public order during the final Ganesh immersion celebrations
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