Odisha government to reopen 70 closed liquor shops

Bhubaneswar (20/09/2025): The Odisha government has decided to reopen as many as 70 liquor shops across the state that had been previously closed. Excise Minister Prithviraj Harichandan said, "The Excise department has granted permission for the reopening.

Proposals have also been put forward to open four new off-shop liquor outlets and three liquor manufacturing units.

Among all districts, Balasore will witness highest number of reopenings, with 17 liquor shops set to start operations." As many as 10 shops in Ganjam, 9 in Nayagarh, 8 in Mayurbhanj, 7 in Cuttack, 5 in Rourkela, 3 in Keonjhar, 4 in Berhampur, 2 in Balangir, 3 in Kandhamal, and 1 each in Malkangiri and Sambalpur will be reopened. Moreover, there are proposals for opening 3 new off-shops in Puri and 1 in Bhubaneswar.