Now, hotels & clubs can apply for excise licence in just 2 steps

Under the HCR licence process, on receipt of online application, the file shall be placed before Licensing Authority/ Deputy Commissioner (Excise) for approval to depute inspection team to check the suitability of proposed HCR premises. If it is found suitable, the report will be signed by the assistant commissioner, HCR, and pasted on the HCR premises to seek objections from locals, if any, within 15 days.

Under the next step, according to a notification issued recently, after the completion of the notice period, the file will be placed before the licensing authority again for approval of initiation of offer letter on payment of licence fee.

After approval on file and receipt of online payment through the excise supply chain information management system (ESCIMS), the assistant commissioner will notify the applicant who will get the licence, login id and password via a registered mail, added the document.

Officials said that earlier, the file for HCR licence application was placed before the licensing authority four times, with the entire process — from deputing the inspection team, issuance of notice based on its report, offer letter and the approval to issue the HCR licence on payment of fees — being repeated.