Costly fuel: Veggie prices to shoot up due to rise in transportation cost

NEW DELHI: The abrupt rise in the fuel price has hit the Delhi wholesale markets, following the small vendors. The potato price shoots up from Rs 15 per kg to Rs 30 per kg as the vendors are paying more cost for the transportation of vegetables coming from neighboring states.

However, the households can find vegetables at a cheaper price because of the earlier stocks but as soon as the stocks finish the vendors will start sailing products at a nearly double price.

"The transportation cost has increased exponentially and this is affecting the traders. The price of things will increase if the situation persists," said Shivraj Sharma of Okhla Mandi. He added that the remaining old stock of vegetables will be finished in some days and after that, they will be forced to sell products at much higher price.

"Potato, tomato, onion and ginger prices will rise. Tomato will be around Rs 50 to 60 per kg, the onion will be Rs 50 per kg. Now tomato is around Rs 20 per kg and Onion is Rs 20 per kg too," said Sharma.

In Delhi, petrol costs Rs 80.87 and diesel Rs 72.97. In Bengaluru, petrol price is Rs 83.51 and diesel is Rs 75.32. In Hyderabad, petrol costs Rs 85.75 and diesel Rs 79.37. In Chennai, petrol costs Rs 84.05 and diesel Rs 77.13. In Kolkata, petrol costs Rs 83.75 and diesel Rs 75.82.

The other markets and the vendors also voiced the same concerns. "The poor vendors are worst hit all over India. In Delhi, the wholesale markets are suffering due to the situation. We have requested the transporters to no hike the price much but they also have their own concern. We always try to keep price affordable but we all have our limitation because its a business and we cannot afford a huge loss," said Sushil Singh of Ghazipur market association.

He added that the government should reduce the VAT which can help us if the wholesale markers suffer in this way then the common people will get hit.

"We do not want this kind of situation it hits our business. The strike and bandh also affected the business. However we have functioned and did not allow to close the mandi but the business was less as the vendors were scared and trucks from UP did not come," Singh said.