Telangana earns Rs 2,860 Cr through sale of liquor shop application forms for new excise policy period

Hyderabad: Telangana government has earned nearly Rs 2,860 crore through the sale of liquor shop application forms for the new excise policy period.

Despite a notable fall in the number of applications compared to the previous round, the state’s decision to raise the application fee helped it achieve record revenue, surpassing last year’s figures by over Rs 200 crore, according to the Excise Department.

The application process, which began on September 26, concluded on October 23, with the Excise Department describing the response as “satisfactory and on target.”

Revenue soars despite fewer applications

A total of 95,436 applications were received for 2,620 liquor shop licenses across Telangana. Each applicant paid a non-refundable fee of Rs 3 lakh, compared to Rs 2 lakh in the 2023–25 excise cycle.

In the previous round, the state had collected Rs 2,640 crore from 1.32 lakh applications. This time, though applications dropped by nearly 36,000, the higher fee structure ensured greater overall revenue, touching Rs 2,860 crore, according to official figures.

The government had set a target of Rs 3,000 crore, which it nearly achieved.

Fee hike and deadline extension boost revenue

Excise officials credited the strong revenue collection to the fee hike and the extended deadline. Initially, the application window was scheduled to close on October 18, but a statewide BC bandh that day disrupted submissions.

Responding to traders’ requests, the government extended the deadline to October 23, which brought in thousands of additional applications in the final days.

Officials also said that a wide publicity campaign helped sustain interest despite the increased costs. “Even with fewer applications, the revenue target was met, and the response from traders was encouraging,” an Excise official said.

Rangareddy Tops the List; Adilabad at the Bottom

Among all excise divisions, Rangareddy district, which includes parts of the Hyderabad metropolitan region, recorded the highest number of applications at 29,430. In contrast, Adilabad received the lowest, at just 4,013.

On average, each liquor shop received 36 applications, showing steady competition across the state’s retail liquor trade. The figures reflect regional variations in business potential, with stronger participation in urban and suburban areas.

Draw of lots on October 27

Excise Commissioner Ch Hari Kiran announced that the draw of lots to determine successful applicants will be held on October 27, under the supervision of district collectors. He said all arrangements have been made to ensure a transparent and fair selection process at the district level.

New Liquor Shops to Open from December 1

Once the draw is complete, the newly licensed liquor outlets will begin operations from December 1, marking the rollout of Telangana’s new excise policy term.

With the policy shift generating close to Rs 2,860 crore even before license issuance, the Excise Department considers this round one of the most financially successful in recent years.