DMRC issues licenses to open liquor shops at Delhi Metro stations

New Delhi, India (Metro Rail Today): The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation Ltd (DMRC) has issued licenses to the Delhi Consumers' Cooperative Wholesale Store Ltd (DCCWS) to open liquor stores at over half a dozen of metro stations. More than six liquor shops have been opened in Badarpur, Dwarka, Karol Bagh, Rajouri Garden, and Mundka metro station premises.

"The Delhi Metro Rail Corporation (DMRC) is being approached by the government undertakings to get permission for opening liquor shops at other stations," said a senior Excise department official, PTI reported.

Four Delhi government undertakings namely Delhi Tourism and Transport Development Corporation (DTTDC), Delhi State Industrial Infrastructure Development Corporation (DSIIDC), Delhi Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation (DSCSC) and DCCWS have planned to open 500 liquor shops across the city by September. And by the year-end, they will together open 200 more stores in the national capital.

The official said that metro stations have a high footfall which is a big factor to ensure more access to liquor products, and thereby more revenue. Metro stations provide a good opportunity for better sales due to space availability and high footfall, hence, the DMRC will soon grant permission to other corporations as well for opening liquor stores at metro premises.

The excise department has already issued around 450 licenses to the four corporations and over 350 liquor stores operated by these four agencies are currently running in the city, as per PTI reports. 

In July 2022, the Delhi government withdrew its Excise Policy 2021-22 after LG VK Saxena recommended a CBI probe into its alleged irregularities and reverted to the old excise regime that was operational before November 17, 2021.

The duty-free liquor stores at the Indira Gandhi International Airport (IGIA) terminals are running normally as they are out of excise ambit, officials said.