Gurpreet Singh :- The allocation of liquor vends in Punjab has seen a sluggish response, with the Excise Department managing to allot only 8 out of 25 pending liquor groups so far, while 17 groups still remain unsold. In an effort to attract bidders, the department has further reduced the license fee by 3%, taking the total reduction to 13%, but the response from contractors continues to remain lukewarm.
Officials indicated that the remaining groups will now be offered through a fresh round of e-tendering. Contractors, however, have expressed reluctance to participate, citing heavy financial losses incurred during the previous financial year. Many believe that the current policy framework and increasing competition have significantly reduced profit margins, making the business less viable.
The Excise Department is preparing to reissue tenders for several key areas, including parts of Chandigarh, Bharatgarh, Tanda, Dasuya, Jalandhar, Balachaur, Kapurthala, Phagwara, Pathankot, Bathinda, Ferozepur, and Abohar. Meanwhile, contractors have urged the government to revisit its policy, particularly demanding stricter control over the sale of premium liquor, and suggesting a more regulated approach to stabilize the market.
