Kolkata: Fruits pinch pockets after bar on trucks

KOLKATA: Fruit prices have shot up after some uncertainty over shifting of Mechua fruit market and bar on big lorries from ferrying in the goods.
For most of the fruits the prices have gone up by anything between 30% and 40% burning a big hole in the pocket of the consumers.

Fruit merchants in Mechua said they were forced to increase the prices after they had to use smaller lorries to ferry fruits after the government barred big lorries from outside the state to enter the city limits after the government decided to regulate markets to prevent the transmission of the coronavirus. Many traders have also cut down on the volume of their stock because they cannot dump fruits on the carriage way and sell.
The consumers are, however, having to shell out more from their pockets.
“Last week, I purchased grapes for Rs 75 a kilogram. Yesterday at the same shop the price was Rs 100 per kg. Litchis which were priced at Rs 100 last week are selling at Rs 140 this week,” said Srjan Das, while shopping for fruits and vegetables at College Street Market.
Consumption also goes up during Ramzan where fruits like bananas, chikus, dates and grapes are staple for iftar, a meal in the evening to break the day-long fast. “Bananas selling for Rs 70-Rs 80 a dozen is very surprising and the sharp rise has happened in the past few days. Prices of chiku, grapes and dates have also gone up. A lot of fruits are a part of iftar for nutrition and rehydration. Till last week I would buy fruits worth Rs 150 everyday. But This week it has gone up to Rs 230 to Rs 250. We might have to cut down on the fruits we eat for iftar,” said Dilshad Hussain a resident of central Kolkata.
Earlier this week the government earmarked the truck terminal on Kona Expressway to shift Mechua fruit market because it was becoming difficult to implement social distancing at the congested market in central Kolkata. the cops also barred entry of big lorries from other states for fear of virus spread. The traders were told to engage smaller vehicles to transport fruits from Kona Expressway to Mechua till the market was shifted.
“We have agreed to all the terms and conditions laid down by the administration. We are using smaller vehicles to transport fruits which is driving up the cost,” said Shahid Ahmed Khan, joint secretary of the Calcutta Fruit Merchants’ Association.