11 liquor vends remain unsold in fifth auction in Chandigarh

Eleven liquor vends remained unsold even after the fifth round of e-auction held by the UT Excise and Taxation Department today. The department managed to auction only six vends out of 17 units put on the block and earned a revenue of Rs 39.60 crore against the reserve price of Rs 24.32 crore.

The highest bid of Rs 10.95 crore was received for the liquor vend located in Sector 22-C market against the reserve price of Rs 4.13 crore. The second highest bid of Rs 10.50 crore was made for the vend located in the Sector 22 market (opposite bus stand) against the reserve price of Rs 3.26 crore. The third highest offer of Rs 6.21 crore came for the vend located in the Sector 40-C market with a reserve price of Rs 6.03 crore.

In the fourth round of action held on May 8, 10 liquor vends remained unsold. The department managed to auction 11 units out of the remaining 21 and earned a revenue of Rs 60.76 crore against the reserve price of Rs 47.97 crore.

7 bidders blacklisted

The department yesterday blacklisted seven highest bidders who have failed to deposit the requisite security money within the prescribed deadline for various retail sale licensing units auctioned recently through e-tendering. Of these seven retail sale licensing units, four are located in Sector 22 and one each in Sector 20, Industrial Area, Phase I, and Manimajra opposite Shivalik Garden. Despite sufficient time provided as per Excise Policy 2025-26, the allottees failed to deposit the required security amount. “Such conduct not only disrupts the fair auction process but also reflects a lack of seriousness and financial intent, raising questions about the genuineness of the bids,” said an official of the department.

The department was able to auction only seven vends out of 28 during the third round of the auction on April 29.

On April 21, it had put up 48 liquor vends, the licences of which were cancelled for the non-payment of bank guarantee, for auction. It managed to find bidders for only 20 units and earned Rs 131 crore against the total reserve price of Rs 109 crore.

On March 21, the department allotted 96 liquor vends out of a total of 97 through an e-auction and generated Rs 606 crore. However, the department cancelled the licences of 48 vends. It earned Rs 23 crore by forfeiting the earnest money and security deposits of these defaulters.

Chandigarh