Greater Noida: The excise department in the city has managed to find takers for 523 of 525 liquor vends so far despite the slowdown caused by the pandemic. The department on Wednesday handed over licences to 13 more people to run model shops and stores selling Indian-Made Foreign Liquor (IMFL) and beer in Gautam Budh Nagar. Some of the prominent areas, where the licences for model shops have been renewed, include Chaura Raghunathpur, Hoshiyarpur, Barola and Bishanpura.

An official said earlier not many people had not come forward to run model shops, but later the remaining shops, barring one, have been taken up. Gautam Budh Nagar had 26 model shops during in this fiscal year, of which 25 have been taken up for the next financial year. Excise officer RB Singh said the target of the current fiscal year is also likely to be achieved despite strict regulations implemented during the initial period of lockdown. The department had grossed Rs 887 crore during 2019-20 and is eyeing higher revenues this fiscal year despite slowdown.

The department had set a target of Rs 1,037 crore in the last financial year. Singh also said the final data of this fiscal year’s liquor trade and revenue will be available only by April 15. Meanwhile, the department is preparing an action plan to implement the latest Uttar Pradesh government order. On Tuesday, the excise department had reduced the limit of liquor possession for individuals during the transit. Also, the government has capped the number of bottles people can stock up at homes. Singh said that the latest guidelines will have to be implemented in the next fiscal year and a meeting with senior officials is scheduled to discuss the measures to be followed.

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