Himachal Excise Update: Over 240 liquor shops go unsold in final auction-Govt agencies to take over
Babushahi Bureau
Shimla (Himachal Pradesh), April 18, 2025: The Himachal Pradesh government’s final attempt to auction the remaining liquor vends on Thursday failed to attract significant interest, leaving over 240 shops unsold across six districts.
According to sources, the State Taxes and Excise Department had scheduled the last round of liquor shop auctions in Kangra, Mandi, Kullu, Lahaul, Bilaspur, and Shimla. However, the response remained lukewarm.
In Shimla district, only two vends in the Jury area were sold, along with two others in different locations. Mandi and Kullu districts witnessed the auction of just four vends each.
Notably, no liquor shops were sold in Kangra, and the situation was similar in Bilaspur.With the failure to attract private bidders, the state government has now decided to hand over the responsibility of managing liquor vends to government-run agencies.
Agencies such as the Civil Supplies Corporation, State Industrial Development Corporation (SIDC), Forest Development Corporation, HPMC, HIMFED, and GIC will now operate these shops.While this marks a new venture for many of these agencies, all have started preparing their operational strategies.
Both GIC and SIDC have received board approval to enter the liquor trade, and the Civil Supplies Corporation is also ready with its roadmap.Additionally, 19 liquor shops within Shimla City have been assigned to the Shimla Municipal Corporation.
Though uncharted territory for these government bodies, they are now gearing up to take on the challenge as per the state government’s directive.