Chandigarh, March 22 -- Unlike the last two years, when the UT excise and taxation department struggled with unsold vends and missed revenue targets, this year, it has been third-time lucky.

At an auction held on Friday, the department successfully sold 96 out of the 97 liquor vends on offer, over a week before the 2025-26 Excise Policy kicks in on April 1.

This marked a much-needed recovery for the department, which generated Rs.606 crore in revenue-36% above the Rs.439 crore reserve price-setting it on a strong path to meet its revised target of Rs.800 crore for the year.

Additionally, it raked in Rs.4.56 crore in participation fees, with 228 liquor contractors bidding for the 96 vends sold.

The liquor vend in Palsora fetched the hi...