2,620 liquor shops attract around 60,000 applicants

HYDERABAD: There was a huge rush across all districts in Telangana on Thursday, the last day to submit applications to set up liquor shops.
As many as 56,935 applications were received by 7 pm on Thursday to set up 2,620 liquor shops. As there were hundreds of applicants waiting in queues in all the districts they will be allowed to submit applications till midnight. Excise officials said all those who remained in queues before 7 pm, will be allowed to submit applications.

The liquor shops will be allotted to applicants through a lottery.

The state government is expected to earn over Rs 1,200 crore from around 60, 000 applicants through application fees alone. The application fee has been prescribed at Rs 2 lakh and is non-refundable.

The number of liquor shops has increased from 2,216 in 2019 to 2,620.