New Delhi: Liquor store crunch at IGI airport and NDMC areas will continue for some more days even as Delhi government agencies are slated to take over the retail liquor business in the city from September 1, officials said on Monday.
They said over 300 vends have been readied in various parts of the city and 360 liquor brands registered so far in consonance with the city government's decision to go back to the old excise regime with its four agencies running 500 liquor in Delhi from September 1.
Several new shops opening from next month will be located near Metro stations where the footfall is high and safety measures are relatively better. The Excise Department has also issued licenses for liquor vends in six malls which will open from September 1, officials said.
Also, the department will focus on premium vends in the coming days. These shops will have larger space and a variety of liquors of top brands, they said.
The New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) last week rejected a proposal for the allotment of five shops to Delhi government-run Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC) and for opening liquor vends for the sale of liquor under its jurisdiction.
"We hope to soon issue licenses for shops in NDMC areas as well as at the IGI airport after the private players exit the retail liquor business on August 30. As of now, no licenses have been issued for these two areas," said an Excise department officer.
The process of registering liquor brands has also picked up pace and 44 manufacturers out of 60 who had applied have been registered.
"Out of 360 liquor brands registered so far, 230 are foreign brands and the remaining are Indian Manufactured Foreign Liquors," an official said.
District-level teams headed by Sub-Divisional Magistrates have started inspecting the new shops that have been readied in various parts of the city. The Excise department has also maintained a liquor stock of one week as orders are being placed by the agencies concerned as they open shops from September 1.