Long queues for liquor shop licences on last day

Hyderabad: Thousands of applicants thronged excise offices across Telangana to submit applications for new liqour shops in the state on the last day of applications Monday.

Though the notification was issued last week, a majority of the applicants waited till the last day. Excise offices witnessed serpentine queues all through the day.

Those who were still in the queue by 5pm were issued tokens to enable them submit applications even after deadline. The process was expected continue till midnight, an excise source said.

The response in districts was more than GHMC limits due to the higher licence fee of Rs 2.16crore prescribed here by the government.

While notification was issued for 212 shops in GHMC limits, nearly 1,500 applications were expected. For the about 2,000 shops in districts, nearly 14,000 applications were expected.

After scrutiny of applications, the excise department would announce the final numbers Tuesday.

Collectors of respective districts would conduct the draw of lots on September 23 to allot the shops.