Gurugram tops state in excise revenue with Rs 3,875cr

Living up to the title of ‘booze city’ of Haryana, Gurugram has topped the state yet again in excise revenues. The city generated Rs 3,875 crore, contributing 27% of the total revenue in liquor licences this year. It is closely followed by the Faridabad with Rs 1,696 crore. Sonipat Rs 1,066 crore stands at third, followed by Rewari (Rs 654 crore) and Hisar (Rs 615 crore).

The state Excise Department has announced that contrary to the apprehensions surrounding the latest excise policy, it has yielded historic 13.25% revenue growth this year. It may be noted that Gurugram hit headlines as a single vend on golf course road had fetched Rs 100 crore in auction. In Gurugram, the liquor vend at Bristol Chowk on Golf Course Road was auctioned for a record-breaking ₹98.6 crore, making it the most expensive liquor licence zone in Haryana's history. The G Town Wines Company secured the bid under the state's new excise policy, which allows for a 22-month licence duration. In the last excise policy for financial year 2024-25, Bristol Chowk was auctioned for almost half the amount of the latest bid, at Rs 49.3 crore.

“The Haryana Excise and Taxation Department issued licences for 2,388 retail liquor shops and recorded a revenue growth of 13.25% this year, clearly indicating that the policy has been successful. The auction of all 1,194 excise zones in the state has been successfully completed. Each zone has been permitted two shops, making a total of 2,388 licences,” said Excise and Taxation Commissioner Vinay Pratap Singh.

According to the department, the state has earned a record revenue of ₹14,342 crore through the auction process, which is almost double of last year’s figures of ₹7,025 crore.

“A notable point is that this year's auction was completed much earlier and more transparently as compared to previous years. While last year’s auction concluded in August, this year the entire process was completed in July itself, a clear indication of improved efficiency and administrative capability,” added Singh.

The government claims that one of the key boosters is that excise revenue growth in rural districts like Bhiwani, Fatehabad, Hisar, Kurukshetra and Panipat witnessed a significant jump compared to previous years. The state government is crediting the growth to better crime control and management. It says the Chief Minister and law enforcement agencies took strict action against criminal elements. This ensured a smooth auction process and increased investor confidence. For example, Yamunanagar district, which previously saw low participation, recorded revenue of ₹439.88 crore this time, up from ₹237.81 crore last year.

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While the state government is busy celebrating the excise revenue growth, businessman and columnist Suhel Seth is creating a flutter with his recent comments, accusing Haryana government of choosing liquor vends over infrastructure. Seth at a recent event denounced Gurugram’s governance, highlighting its chaotic urban sprawl, poor public services and absence of accountability. “We have more liquor vends than functioning traffic lights, and more bars than schools,” he said.