As auctions of liquor vends continue as part of the Haryana Excise Policy 2023-24, which rolls out on June 12, Gurgaon recorded a 100% increase from base or reserve prices in some zones. The auction, which saw participation from states including Punjab, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, is being held for 162 zones in East and West areas of Gurgaon. The highest bid so far was recorded in the Mehrauli area along the Delhi border which went for Rs 43 crore against a reserve price of Rs 22 crore, marking around a 100% increase. The East had collected licence fees worth Rs 568 crore last year, and it has soared this year to Rs 936 crore, recording a 64% increase. Nine zones in West and East are yet to be auctioned, and the date has been postponed to June 11. In the West, with 83 zones, the base prices of Rs 511 crore saw an increase of 28.8% as the auctioned amount was Rs 658 crore. Last year, the auctioned amount was Rs 510 crore. Shankar Chowk emerged as the zone with the highest bid with an over 100% increase from base price, which was Rs 12.5 crore, and the auctioned amount was Rs 26.42 crore. The excise department allots licences through its zones in Gurgaon, and an allottee can open two vends in the zone. The cap of two was to limit monopoly by big businesses, said Ravinder Singh, Deputy Excise and Taxation Commissioner, East. “Now, even small businesses have a fair opportunity to bid and set up their vends. improving the entry of more private players,” he added. He added that the competition from neighbouring states has increased this year because the policy is liberal as compared to those of other states and the prices are low, driving many companies to make a foray into the business in Haryana. Provision to serve liquor in corporate offices With the new excise policy allowing serving of liquor inside corporate offices, Singh said that they are yet to form a list of offices that fall under the criteria. The L10F licence, introduced for the first time in the state, has a set of prerequisites such as, having a strength of 5,000 registered employees, an area of at least 1 lakh sqft, minimum area of eatery or the canteen should be not less than 2,000 sqft, the liquor served would be of low concentration like RTB, beer, wine. It also says that the area should not be connected to areas frequented by the public. "We have had two corporate offices approach us for the licence. They are being considered by the commissioner, following which they will be granted an L10F licence… This way, we can create safe places for consumption of liquor," said Singh. Once the commissioner approves the licence, the corporates can purchase liquor falling under the category mentioned from retail shops.
