PNS|Hyderabad
About 1.25 lakh applications were received for the licence of A4 retail liquor shops in Telangana. This will generate a revenue of Rs 2400 crore through the Rs 2 lakh application fee.
Saroornagar and Shamshabad received the highest number of applications. Vikarabad and Yadadri got almost 250% higher applications than last time. Khammam and Nalgonda are among the districts which had a high number of applications.
The final numbers have not been notified by Excise Department officials. Officials said that at 9 pm 1,16,500 applications were received and they will ultimately touch around 1.2 lakh. This is nearly double of what was received last time when 69,000 applications were received fetching Rs 1380 crore. For every application Rs 2 lakh has to be paid and the DD must be attached. This amount is non-refundable.
On the final day, double the applications were received as until Saturday the numbers were around 65,000 applications. Traders competed on a huge scale to get liquor shops in Telangana as Friday was the final date for obtaining licenses for liquor shops.
A draw will be conducted to select applicants on August 21. Those who get licences must pay the first phase of excise tax on August 21 and 22. New shops can be opened from December 1, 2023, and can continue till November 30, 2025.