दिल्ली एयरपोर्ट पर जल्द ही दो नई शराब की दुकानें खुलेंगी, जिससे घरेलू यात्रियों को खुशी मिलेगी।

Delhi airport will soon cheer up domestic flyers with two new liquor vends.

In a cheerful update for travelers, Delhi's Indira Gandhi International Airport will soon open liquor shops for domestic passengers. The Delhi Consumers' Cooperative Wholesale Store Limited plans to operate one shop in T3's arrival section by the first week of July and another in T1's departure area in the following weeks, according to a report by ToI on June 26. This initiative aims to help Delhi regain its share of domestic liquor sales, which had declined after the closure of privately-operated premium liquor stores due to the rescission of the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22 in September 2022, as reported by Atul Mathur.

Currently, the arrival and departure areas of T3 have duty-free shops where international travelers can buy liquor. Soon, domestic terminals will join in with their own shops. At its peak, Delhi airport's domestic terminals housed six premium liquor stores run by private entities under the Delhi Excise Policy 2021-22. However, after the policy was withdrawn amid CBI and ED investigations for alleged irregularities, the Delhi government returned to the old excise regime, shifting the retail liquor business to four government corporations. Initially, the Delhi Tourism and Transportation Development Corporation and Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation tried to secure space at the airport for their liquor shops but couldn't agree on rental terms with the airport operator. Eventually, the Delhi Consumers' Cooperative Wholesale Store Limited succeeded in securing space, leading to the upcoming shops.

The store in T3's arrival area will occupy about 750 square feet, allowing customers to freely browse and choose their preferred premium liquor brands.

"The resumption of liquor shops at domestic terminals will be welcomed by travelers into and out of the city who previously bought their choice of alcohol products on their way in or out of Delhi. This will also help the state regain some of the sales lost to NCR regions and further improve its excise collection," ToI quoted Nita Kapoor, CEO of the International Spirits and Wines Association of India. Kapoor noted that liquor shops at domestic terminals are popular in other cities like Mumbai, Goa, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Kolkata, and Kerala, and that even mini-metros and tier-1 towns are planning similar initiatives to boost local sales.

Vinod Giri, director general of the Brewers Association of India, emphasized the significance of these stores. "Liquor stores at Indira Gandhi International Airport were a great retail point for premium alcohol. More importantly, they showcased the modern, tolerant, and progressive face of Delhi, as expected from the capital of a major country. This trend was later picked up by several airports across the country, thus helping alcohol gain greater social acceptance," Giri remarked. He also mentioned the previous challenges faced by government-owned retail corporations in securing leases at the airport. "If the two sides can work out a deal and reopen the shops, it will create a convenient purchase point for traveling consumers, enhance the retail experience at the Delhi airport, and reinforce the capital's reputation as a forward-thinking city," he told the newspaper.

The new shops are expected to fill the gap left by the closure of previous stores and boost the capital's excise revenue. As air travel continues to grow, the reopening of these liquor stores at domestic terminals aligns with broader trends seen in other major and emerging metropolitan areas across the country.

News Reference