The city’s kitchens are feeling the pinch as vegetable prices have shot up sharply, with tomatoes leading the surge. At the Koyambedu wholesale vegetable market, tomatoes are now selling at ₹70 per kg — a steep rise from the usual ₹30–₹40 range. In Puzhal and nearby retail areas, prices have climbed even higher, touching ₹100 per kg.
Other essential vegetables have also recorded significant price hikes. Small onions are retailing at ₹65 per kg, beans at ₹60 per kg, garlic at ₹150 per kg, and peas at ₹200 per kg. Traders attribute the surge to reduced supply from cultivation areas and transportation disruptions, and caution that the trend may persist until the end of the monsoon season.
Households and small eateries are already reworking their purchase plans, with some cutting down on bulk buying. Market watchers say that unless weather conditions improve and supply chains stabilise, consumers may have to brace for continued high prices in the coming weeks.