Chandigarh, March 22 : Punjab Finance, Planning, Excise and Taxation Minister Advocate Harpal Singh Cheema announced a remarkable milestone. It marks the state’s excise revenue growth. He credited this success to the Excise Policies. The Aam Aadmi Party (AAP)-led Punjab Government has implemented these policies since taking office in 2022. The Punjab excise revenue has seen an unprecedented cumulative growth over the past three years. It has risen from Rs  6254 crores to over Rs 10200 crores.

financial year 2024-25 is likely to exceed the target of ₹10,145 crores.

He said that for the first time in Punjab’s history, the excise revenue would surpass the five-digit mark. The financial year 2024-25 is likely to exceed the target of Rs 10,145 crores. Addressing a press conference here at Punjab Bhawan, the Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema lauded the Excise department’s achievements. He stated that the success of the tendering process has set the stage for continued growth. This marks a fourth consecutive year of remarkable growth for the Punjab Excise Department. He said that the Excise Department has received an overwhelming response. The response was for its ongoing e-tender process. This process is for the allotment of retail liquor licenses for the fiscal year 2025-26. He revealed that the department had set a reserve price of Rs 9017 crores for 207 Retail Liquor Groups. As of March 20, officials have successfully allotted 179 of these groups. This accounts for 87% of the total. They fetched a discovered price of ₹8681 crores. Additionally, they brought in Rs 871 crores as a premium against the reserved price of Rs 7810 crore.

Finance Minister Confident of ₹11,020 Cr Target

The Finance Minister expressed confidence in achieving the ambitious target of Rs 11020 crores for the upcoming fiscal year 2025-26. He said that the tremendous response to the e-tendering process suggests that the department is likely to surpass this target, potentially reaching approximately ₹11800 crores, which would represent a 16% increase over the previous year’s excise revenue. Minister Cheema also took the opportunity to criticize the previous governments led by the SAD-BJP alliance and the Congress for their failure to boost excise revenue. He said that during the Congress regime from 2002 to 2007, excise revenue declined by 6.9%, falling from Rs 1462 crores in 2002 to Rs 1363 crores in 2007. Cheema further highlighted that during the decade-long SAD-BJP rule, the term “mafia” became synonymous with governance. Excise revenue dropped from ₹4796 crores in 2015-16 to Rs  4400 crores in 2016-17 due to an Excise Policy designed to benefit cronies.

“Punjab Govt Highlights Excise Revenue Growth,

He further added that the Congress regime from 2017 to 2022 followed a similar trajectory. Excise revenue stagnated for the first three years of the regime. It only reached ₹6200 crores by FY 2021-22. He also recalled the tragic hooch incident during the Congress tenure, which claimed the lives of 128 economically disadvantaged individuals. The press conference concluded with a reaffirmation of the government’s commitment to transparency, efficiency, and progressive policies. Chief Minister Bhagwant Singh Mann leads the Punjab Government. Finance Minister Harpal Singh Cheema stated that the growth in excise revenue proves the success of the excise policies. This success reflects positively on the policies implemented. These policies have driven the state’s excise revenue to unprecedented heights. He said that the AAP led Punjab government is committed to increasing the state revenue. This initiative aims to ensure its financial stability. Additionally, this revenue will be used for the betterment of every section of society.