Chennai: Due to a complete lockdown in Chennai, the retail prices of vegetables hae doubled, adding to customers’ woes amid the pandemic.
Vegetable vendor said that the rise in prices is due to rising transportation costs, reduced arrivals and rainfall in other districts of Tamilnadu.
At present, the price of one kg of tomato is Rs. 45 to 50, potato is priced at Rs. 50 to 55 per kg, while garlic and beans are priced at Rs. 300 and Rs. 150 respectively.
A trader said, “lorries arriving from districts and other States have considerably gone down owing to the lockdown and the rains, affecting arrivals.”
Traders also said that many retailers in the city were not picking up vegetables from the new wholesale market in Thirumazhisai on the outskirts of Chennai, resulting in tonnes of veggies going to waste.