Liquor shops opened at Delhi metro stations | Details here

The Delhi government's excise department on Saturday started selling liquor in metro stations to meet the demand of customers. As of now, outlets have been opened in Karolbagh, Rajouri Garden, Dwarka and Subhash Nagar, among other stations.

In a move welcomed by tipplers, the Delhi government excise department started selling liquor in metro stations beginning Saturday to meet the demand of customers. Shops have opened up at metro stations in Karolbagh, Rajouri Garden, Dwarka, Mundka, Shivaji Park, Sultanpuri, Subhash Nagar, and Badarpur to sell liquor.

“These small-sized shops will cater to the customers of JJ Clusters and unauthorised colonies, and everyone can get liquor easily here. Opened shops are small in size and bigger shops are in the pipeline,” an excise official said.

This came after the new excise policy, implemented on November 17, 2021, was scrapped and the old policy was re-implemented on September 1, 2022. Excise department officials faced a challenge due to the non-opening of liquor shops in 67 non-conforming areas.

These commercial shops are situated on the ground floor of the station and come under the jurisdiction of Delhi Consumer’s cooperative wholesale store (DCCWS).

The allowance of licensees to open additional shops in conforming areas in lieu of non-conforming wards without approval from authorities was considered a procedural lapse in Delhi excise policy and found by the chief secretary in his July 8, 2022, report.

There are also plans to open 500 liquor shops across the city by September and at least 200 more by the end of 2022, said officials.

Last November, Delhi was divided into 32 zones in which 849 liquor shops were opened. But, the opening of liquor shops in non-conforming areas was hugely protested by the Delhi BJP.