The state government recently opened applications for new alcohol stores, and the response has been overwhelming. In just three days, a whopping 3,000 people applied for liquor shop licenses. On the first day alone, 200 eager entrepreneurs submitted their applications. The next two days saw an even bigger surge, with over 2,800 more joining the race.
The government has already collected Rs.60 crores in application fees, and there’s still time left to apply. The deadline is set for the 9th of this month, so we might see even more applications pouring in during the final three days. The Excise Department announced openings for 3,396 liquor shops and 12 smart stores across AP.
Officials think the total number of applications could reach a staggering one lakh (100,000)! The government might earn up to Rs.2,000 crores from these non-refundable application fees. Compared to 2017, when there were about 18 applications per shop, this time they’re expecting around 30 for each store.
Most of the new shops (66.57%) will be in mandals (rural areas). Visakhapatnam Corporation will have the most stores in one area (136), while Tirupati district tops the list with 227 shops. On the other hand, Alluri Sitaramaraju district has the least, with only 40 stores.
The new liquor policy in AP brings some changes. You’ll find national and international brands in these new shops. A special committee, led by a retired High Court judge, will decide on fair pricing. The whole process should be done within 90 days. Good news for shop owners – taxes have been simplified from 10 types to just 6!
-Sanyogita
