Duty-Free Liquor Shop Approved at Surat International Airport After 2-Year Delay

Surat | Gujarat — There is some good news for the fun-loving Surtis, especially the bachhus fond of branded liquor and beer, travelling from the Surat international airport. The Airports Authority of India (AAI) has approved a Duty-free shop at the airport and that the process to operational the outlet has picked up pace. 

A Request for Proposal (RFP) has been floated for the design, development, operation, and maintenance of duty-free shops within the customs area of the terminal.This move comes more than two years after the inauguration of the new terminal on 17 December 2023 by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, raising serious concerns about delayed execution of key passenger amenities.

Despite the airport being designated as “international,” several essential services have either been delayed or are still not operational:

• Prayer Room: Yet to be constructed, despite being a mandatory facility at international airports
• Smoking Room: Became operational only after 6–8 months delay, even though construction itself was delayed by nearly a year
• Other passenger-centric amenities have also seen slow rollout, drawing criticism from frequent flyers and local stakeholders

This raises questions on planning and execution by authorities, especially when compared to other international airports in India.

As per the RFP document, the duty-free outlets will offer a range of products including:

• Liquor / Alcoholic beverages
• Tobacco products
• Cosmetics & personal care
• Chocolates and packaged snacks
• Watches & jewellery
• Electronic goods
• Select “Made in India” products permitted by customs

This indicates that Surat Airport will finally match global standards in retail offerings for international passengers.

Big Policy Question: Liquor Sales in a Dry State

However, the move has triggered a significant legal and policy debate.Gujarat is a prohibition state, where sale and consumption of liquor is strictly regulated. The introduction of duty-free liquor sales raises critical questions:

• How will passengers arriving from destinations like Dubai or Bangkok be allowed to purchase liquor at arrival duty-free and legally carry it into Gujarat?
• Will special exemptions or sealed transit rules apply?
• What enforcement mechanism will be followed by state authorities?
• Why has clarity not yet been provided, despite similar operations at Ahmedabad Airport?

This regulatory ambiguity has existed for years but remains unresolved, highlighting a gap between aviation policy and state prohibition laws.

Local passengers and industry observers argue that Surat, being a major economic hub, has been consistently neglected in aviation infrastructure rollout. Facilities promised at inauguration are still incomplete even after two years.