Contract renewed, but little stock: Delhi airport’s liquor outlet running dry

Highlighting the issue, authorities at the airport have once again written to the Delhi Consumers’ Cooperative Wholesale Store Ltd (DCCWS), which operates the liquor shop. “Request you to intervene in getting the stock replenished at the earliest,” their email read.

Stock hasn’t been replenished since March, claimed officials.

The DCCWS general manager did not respond to calls and messages seeking comment.

An official from the DCCWS said, “This was the first time DCCWS was operating a shop at the airport, and certain issues kept cropping up. The contract was also ending. A lot of permissions had to be taken to renew the contract. But everything is sorted now and the contract has been renewed for two years… We will start taking fresh orders tomorrow morning, and new stock will arrive by afternoon.”

A source said, “A huge revenue loss is being faced due to the lack of liquor at the shop… The shop is at an international airport, and a large number of people come to purchase liquor from here…”

Airport authorities had earlier written to the DCCWS in May, raising the issue of a dip in daily average in sales from Rs 3.04 lakh in January to Rs 2.20 lakh in May.

In February, daily average sales dipped to Rs 2.71 lakh but picked up in March when the stocks were refilled, generating Rs 3.52 lakh daily, said officials.

The shop reopened almost two years after it was shut following the probe by investigating agencies, including the CBI, into the now-scrapped excise policy 2021-22 of the Delhi government.

The walk-in store, with self-service, operates 24×7. The contract ended on June 6, and it has been renewed for two years, said officials.