UP holds first phase of e-lottery for over 27,000 liquor shops; 'intense battle' in 5 districts

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The Uttar Pradesh Excise Department is conducting the first phase of its e-lottery for retail liquor shops today at Indira Gandhi Pratishthan (Jupiter Hall). Gautam Budh Nagar, Lucknow, Gorakhpur, Prayagraj and Varanasi are the top five districts which are witnessing intense battle for retail liquor trade during the lottery draw.

According to the officials, the participants must bring their photo, registration slip issued from the e-lottery portal and original ID card (Aadhaar or PAN). If an applicant sends a representative, they must collect an entry card from the district excise officer’s office in Lucknow before the event.

The exercise will seal the fate of 4,14,679 applicants vying to own 27,308 shops. A maximum of two stores, located anywhere in the state, may be assigned to each applicant.

The e-lottery platform will create allocation orders after the lottery process is complete, and applicants can check their allotted stores by logging in, according to the announcement. Additionally, the department will notify the chosen applicants by SMS. After being selected, successful candidates have three working days to pay the entire basic licence fee online.

Among the top five districts, Gautam Budh Nagar has received the maximum interest for retail trade with 18,231 forms being received for 501 shops. In Lucknow, 17,605 applications were submitted for 1,041 shops while in Gorakhpur, 15,368 contenders will vie for 580 shops.

In Prayagraj and Varanasi, 13,062 and 12,416 applicants, respectively, are eyeing 1,032 and 697 shops.

Ghaziabad with 436 retail shops stands on the sixth spot where 12,040 applications have been received. In the remaining 69 districts, less than 10,000 people have come forward.

The lottery draw will take place in four slots across 75 districts of the state between 10 am and 4.45 pm today.