8,770 in fray for 41 bar licences as T holds lucky draw today | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Competition for Telangana’s new bar licences has reached a fever pitch, with the excise department receiving 8,770 applications for just 41 bar licences across the state. The licence holders will be selected through a lucky draw to be conducted on Friday.Of the total applications, 4,251 were received for 14 bars in the core urban region (CURE), while 4,519 applications were filed for 27 bars in other municipal corporations and municipalities.The draw is scheduled to begin at 11 am on Oct 16 in the presence of applicants, excise department officials said.Prohibition and excise commissioner C Harikiran will oversee the draw for the 14 CURE bars, while district collectors will conduct the selection process for bars in their respective districts.For the CURE licences, the process will be supervised by deputy commissioners of excise from Cyberabad, Greater Hyderabad and Malkajgiri.Cyberabad deputy commissioner J Harikishan said the draw would be held at the Address Convention and Exhibition Centre, Narsingi.Officials said all applicants had been informed about the draw through WhatsApp messages and SMS alerts. They have been asked to report at the venue by 9 am.With thousands of applicants vying for a limited number of licences, the draw is expected to attract considerable attention.