Delhi Government Launches Trial Run of e-Abkari Portal to Modernise Excise Supply Chain Management

The Delhi government has initiated a trial run of the e-Abkari portal, developed by the National Informatics Centre (NIC), to replace the current excise supply chain information management system. This new platform aims to streamline the retail liquor business, according to officials.

During this trial phase, the e-Abkari portal will be utilised by 10 liquor stores operated by each of four government corporations. Additionally, over 30 excise-licensed hotels, clubs, and restaurants will participate, as per a source from the Excise department. The portal will facilitate online stock orders, transit permits, and other formalities for selected licensees.

Transition to e-Abkari Portal

The existing excise supply chain information management system (ESCIMS) was developed by a private IT firm for Delhi's Excise department and has been in use since 2013. This system will be replaced once the e-Abkari website is fully operational after the trial period. Officials mentioned that Excise department teams have been preparing for this transition for months.

To ensure a smooth shift to the e-Abkari portal, teams visited various states, including Punjab, to understand its functionality. Although the transition was planned earlier this year, technical issues delayed its implementation. After the contract with the IT firm ended, the Excise department took over ESCIMS operations.

Technical Challenges and Revenue Impact

In September, a technical glitch caused the ESCIMS portal to be non-functional for several days. This disruption led to liquor shortages at retail outlets and resulted in a revenue loss of several hundred crores for the government. The officials noted these challenges as they prepare for adopting the new e-Abkari system.

The introduction of the e-Abkari portal marks a significant step towards modernising Delhi's excise operations. By addressing previous technical issues and learning from other states' experiences, the government aims to enhance efficiency in managing the retail liquor business.