Liquor Shop at Delhi Airport’s Terminal 3 Faces Sales, Staffing, and Stock Challenges

The liquor outlet located in the arrivals section of Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport’s Terminal 3 is grappling with low sales, operational disruptions, and stock shortages, sources reveal.

Delhi Airport authorities have raised concerns about these issues with the Delhi Consumer’s Co-operative Wholesale Store Limited (DCCWS), which manages the outlet. In a recent email to DCCWS, airport officials cited ongoing “operational challenges” and restricted staff access as key factors impacting customer experience.

“For the past two months, the store has faced operational difficulties — stock shortages leading to loss of business. Additionally, staff entry restrictions have resulted in insufficient manpower, causing inconsistent service,” the communication stated.

The Excise Commissioner did not respond to repeated requests for comment.

Sources confirmed the liquor shop was closed for several days earlier this month due to unresolved staff entry pass renewals. A notice displayed outside the store read: “The store’s sales have been stopped due to the lack of staff passes.” An official from the Excise Department later clarified that the issue had been resolved.

Operational challenges have also contributed to a decline in daily average sales. According to available data, daily sales dropped from ₹3.04 lakh in January to ₹2.20 lakh in May. Although sales saw a brief rise in March to ₹3.52 lakh per day, the downward trend resumed in subsequent months.

The airport authority’s communication emphasized the store’s initial popularity, urging swift resolution of the problems. “When open, the store generated significant buzz at Delhi Airport. We request immediate intervention to address the issues,” it said.

The Terminal 3 liquor shop is the only one of its kind at the airport and was reopened last year following a nearly two-year closure triggered by investigations, including by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), into the now-defunct 2021-22 liquor policy. It operates 24×7 as a self-service, walk-in outlet under the DCCWS.

Sources indicated that the shop’s contract is due to expire on June 6.

Since the old liquor policy was scrapped, Delhi has only government-operated liquor stores, managed by four corporations: DCCWS, Delhi State Industrial and Infrastructure Development Corporation, Delhi Transport Infrastructure Development Corporation Limited, and Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited.