With Rs 3,875 crore, Gurgaon leads Haryana liquor vend auctions that raked in over Rs 14,300 crore

Indian Express

7 days ago

Gurgaon district led Haryana excise department's revenue collection with Rs 3,875 crore, contributing 27 per cent to the state's total of Rs 14,342 crore in liquor vend auctions that concluded in July under the 2025-27 policy, officials said.
The figure marks a proportionate rise of 13.25 per cent from the Rs 7,025 crore collected in last year's auctions. The department successfully auctioned all 1,194 retail liquor zones, issuing licenses for 2,388 vends, with each zone allowing two vends per licensee. In the 2024-25 fiscal, liquor vend licences were issued for a one-year term, unlike 22 months this time.
'The auctions concluded in July, a month earlier than last year's August timeline, due to the attractive provisions of the 2025-27 Excise Policy,' said Vinay Pratap Singh, Commissioner, Excise and Taxation. A transparent web portal facilitated high participation, he added.
The other top contributors include Faridabad with Rs 1,696 crore or 12 per cent of the total revenue collected, followed by Sonipat (Rs 1,066 crore), Rewari (Rs 654 crore), Hisar (Rs 615 crore), Karnal (Rs 612 crore), and Panipat (Rs 605 crore). Yamuna Nagar's revenue rose to Rs 439.88 crore from Rs 237.81 crore last year, despite low initial participation.
Significant year-on-year revenue increases were seen in Bhiwani (23.5%), Fatehabad (21%), Hisar (21%), Kurukshetra (20.5%), Karnal (19%), and Panipat (18%).
The Haryana Government has set a revenue target of Rs 14,064 crore under the new excise policy. In 2024-25, the government had collected Rs 12,700 crore against a target of Rs 12,650 crore.
'Prompt and strong action by state law enforcement against criminal elements, under the directions of the Hon'ble Chief Minister, ensured faster auctions and substantially higher revenue,' the commissioner stated. He highlighted that these measures underscored the state's commitment to the safety and security of its residents, contributing to the auction's success.
Earlier, the third phase of liquor vend auctions, held on May 31, was a bonanza for the Haryana government's exchequer as bids fetched Rs 1,270.40 crore, exceeding the reserve price of Rs 1,198.90 crore by 5.96 per cent. Bristol Chowk at the city's elite Golf Course Road saw the highest bids at Rs 98.6 crore by G-Town Wines against a reserve (base) price of Rs 94.6 crore.
Last year, the same zone had seen the highest bid by the same winning bidder at Rs 48.28 crore against a base price of Rs 36.75 crore. The state excise department had, in that phase, completed the auctions of 50 out of 79 liquor retail zones in Gurgaon (East) under the Excise Policy 2025-27.
DLF-3 zone had fetched Rs 63 crore against a reserve price of Rs 60 crore, the second highest in the district. The third highest had been for Shankar Chowk zone, which had gone at the base price of Rs 62 crore. Nawada zone saw winning bids that were 30 per cent higher than the base price, while the same for South City was 25 per cent, followed by American Express on Southern Peripheral Road (24.3% higher), Badshapur (20.9%), Sikohpur and Kankrola (20.5% each), Sohna Road (16.9%), and Banni Square (12%).
The excise department allots licences through its zones in Gurgaon, and an allottee can open two vends in the zone with a cap of two to limit monopoly by big businesses.
Competition from neighbouring states has increased in recent years because the policy is liberal – compared to other states – and the prices are low, driving many companies to make a foray into the business in Haryana, excise officials had earlier told The Indian Express.