More liquor shops to come up at malls

To target more number of customers, especially women, the Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited has decided to shift its loss-making shops to shopping malls in the city. Neelam Pandey reports.

To target more number of customers, especially women, the Delhi State Civil Supplies Corporation Limited has decided to shift its loss-making shops to shopping malls in the city.

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Sources said the decision to opt for malls was taken keeping women customers in mind as they find it safer to buy liquor from vends located inside malls.

The need to open more shops in areas where there are fewer liquor vends was decided in the weekly review meeting. A circular regarding this had been issued on May 15 and some areas such as Malviya Nagar, Nehru place, Pushp Vihar, Vasant Kunj, Mayur Vihar phase 1, Preet Vihar, Mayur Vihar phase 3, Lakshmi Nagar (Vikas Marg) were identified.

A senior official from the corporation said, “The clientele of a mall is different from those going to normal shops; our aim is to cater to everyone. This is one of the major reasons we have decided to look at malls.”

"We are trying to increase our revenue by opening up more shops in the city," the official said. Officials said they were conducting a survey to find out areas in the city where

liquor vends are required. Shops will be opened depending on the need, they said.

“So far, 33 locations have been identified where shops will be opened. At many places, shops already exist and we will just need to take them on lease or as the need be. Our revenue for this year stood at R750 crore and we are trying to increase it to R900 crore,” added the official.

According to officials, the agency is especially looking recently-constructed malls where the rental is expected to be low.

“In east Delhi, a number of malls have come up and some of them have vacant shops. A circular has been issued wherein we have been asked to look at malls as an alternative,” added the official.