Verka Booth Allotment Norms Shift: Fee Hike and Extended Draw Leave Amritsar Applicants Baffled
Applicants seeking Verka booths in Amritsar have been left bewildered following significant changes to the allotment norms by Verka Milk Plant. The alterations, announced through a recent corrigendum, have sparked confusion and suspicion among those who had already submitted their applications with earnest money.
Extended Deadlines and Revised Procedures
In a corrigendum published on March 14, Verka Milk Plant announced that the deadline for submitting application forms and the date for displaying site-wise eligible candidates have been extended to March 30. Originally, the submission deadline was set for September 2025, requiring applicants to pay Rs 25,000 as earnest money along with a form fee of Rs 590 plus GST.
An applicant, speaking on condition of anonymity, expressed shock at the norm changes post-submission. "This sudden shift has made me suspicious about the authorities' intentions," they said, urging that the authenticity of the procedure be maintained to ensure fairness.
Increased Financial Burden on Allottees
The applicant highlighted that successful allottees would face additional costs beyond the booth fee, including expenses for electric connections, GST numbers, FSSAI licenses, and product investments. "This stretches the working capital of allottees significantly," they added, noting the financial strain.
Originally, the vends were to be issued for a three-year period, with reservations for war widows, milk producers, women heading households, and persons with disabilities exceeding 50%. The draw of lots, initially scheduled for February 2026, was not held as planned.
Fee Hikes and Allotment Period Extension
Authorities at Verka Milk Plant contacted applicants to inform them of increased fees. The security fee has been raised from Rs 25,000 to Rs 50,000, with instructions to deposit the remaining Rs 25,000 at the office. Additionally, the allotment period has been extended from three to five years.
Sandeep Singh, Marketing Manager at Verka Milk Plant, defended the changes, stating that no procedural violations occurred. "It was duly mentioned in the initial form that procedures could be altered before the draw," he explained.
Expansion Plans and Rationale Behind Changes
Singh elaborated that Verka Milk Plant currently operates 65 vends in the city and aims to add 85 more through the draw. Only 144 applications were submitted by September, but extending the deadline attracted an additional 103 applicants, with more expected by March 30.
The cost per vend has doubled from Rs 1.50 lakh to Rs 3 lakh. Singh attributed this increase to modernized designs and larger booth sizes, expanded from 10'x10' to 12'x12'. "These enhancements justify the fee adjustments," he asserted, emphasizing the plant's commitment to growth and improved facilities.
As the new deadline approaches, applicants remain cautious, hoping for transparency in the allotment process to avoid further disruptions.
