Indore liquor auctions see bids cross Rs 1,600 crore

Indore: Indore excise department's e-auction process for 2026–27 fiscal saw intense competition driving bids far beyond govt expectations. As of Sunday, the first three batches of auctions generated a total highest bid of Rs 1,612.77 crore.The auction, conducted in phases since March 2, consistently outperformed previous years' valuations. In Batch 1, 11 out of 19 groups were executed. Against a reserve price of Rs 452.74 crore, the department received a top bid of Rs 498.37 crore, a 32.09% increase over the 2025–26 annual value.In Batch 2, bidding for 12 groups reached Rs 448.20 crore, surpassing the reserve price by 14.62% and showing a massive 37.54% growth compared to last year's base value.In Batch 3, 11 out of 18 groups saw fierce competition, with 43 tenders filed. The highest bid reached Rs 666.18 crore, an increase of 31.46% over the previous year.By March 8, the department executed 34 out of 56 identified groups. "The results indicate a robust appetite for liquor retail licences in Indore, with the average bid exceeding the department's reserve price by over 11%," Assistant Excise Commissioner Abhishek Tiwari said, adding that the final phase of the e-tender-cum-auction for remaining groups is scheduled to take place on Tuesday.