40 Permit Rooms Skip Licence Renewal Nagpur: A growing number of permit room operators in Nagpur district have chosen not to renew their licenses, raising alarms about the sustainability of the liquor bar sector. According to the Nagpur District Restaurant Permit Room Association, 40 operators have failed to renew their licenses, citing a surge in financial burdens as the primary reason. The operators have pointed to a sharp increase in licence fees, along with higher taxes such as VAT, GST, and TCS, as well as rising operational costs, as factors that have made it increasingly difficult to maintain their businesses. The association’s president, Rajiv Jaiswal, described the sector as “a sick industry,” emphasizing that the combination of heavy taxation and the unchecked proliferation of illegal liquor trade has created an unsustainable environment for legitimate operators. Jaiswal highlighted that the lack of effective control over illicit liquor sales has led to significant losses for honest businesses, while the financial strain of compliance has become unbearable. He warned that without urgent intervention, the sector could face a crisis akin to the challenges faced by farmers in recent years. The financial pressures on permit room operators have been exacerbated by a steep rise in licence fees. Last year, the annual fee for a permit room was set at ₹9.30 lakh, but this year it has increased to ₹11.50 lakh. The association stated that this sharp rise has forced several operators to shut down their establishments, further destabilizing the industry. Jaiswal called for immediate government action, urging authorities to crack down on illegal liquor trade and to reduce the recently increased licence fees.#nagpur_district #illegal_liquor_trade #nagpur_district_restaurant_permit_room_association #rajiv_jaiswal #permit_room_operators
