Unexpected Response from Business Owners to Bar Allocation

The allocation process for new bars in the state has concluded, with officials receiving 8,770 applications for just 41 bars. On average, each bar attracted 214 applications. With a fee of ₹1 lakh per application, the government generated revenue of ₹87.70 crore. Officials selected the successful applicants through a lottery draw held on Friday and immediately issued bar licences to the winners.

Of the 41 bars, 14 were located in the CURE area, while the remaining 27 were in corporations and municipalities across other districts. Excise Commissioner C. Harikiran supervised the draw for the 14 CURE-area bars, which received 4,251 applications an average of 303 applicants per bar. District collectors conducted the draws for the other 27 bars, which attracted 4,519 applications, averaging 167 applicants per bar.