Delhi Government open liquor shops at multiple metro stations

The Delhi Consumers’ Cooperative Wholesale Store Ltd (DCCWS) has received licences from the Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) for built-up shops on commercial terms in order to open liquor stores at more than half a dozen metro stations, according to the officials.According to a senior Excise department officer, the Delhi government has taken into consideration stations like Badarpur, Dwarka, Karol Bagh, Rajouri Garden, and Mundka for this initiative.

Additionally, the DMRC was contacted to request permission to set up government-approved liquor stores at other stations.Excise officials claim that additional businesses will open stores at metro locations soon in addition to DCCWS because of the stations’ high foot traffic and space availability. By the end of December, the government intends to open more than 500 liquor stores throughout the city. Delhi was divided into 32 zones in November of last year, and 849 liquor stores were opened there. But the Delhi BJP vigorously opposed the opening of liquor stores in non-compliant areas.

The 300 square foot retail spaces will be located in metro stations. In the absence of suitable shops, nearby buildings will be taken into consideration.
On the other hand, data from the state-owned state beverages corporation Bevco shows that alcohol sales worth 117 crore were reported throughout Kerala a day before Thiruonam, one of the most significant days of the 10-day Onam festival period.

A record amount of alcohol was sold in Kerala during the week before Onam 2022, totaling Rs 624 crore, up from Rs 529 crore the previous year. Kerala State Beverages Corporation (BevCo), the state’s only wholesaler of alcoholic beverages, released the statistics on Friday, September 9, revealing the sales for the past week, which ended on Wednesday, September 7.

By Subhechcha Ganguly