Mumbai Tempo Federation to increase fare from March 1

With the prices of fuel increasing across Maharashtra, the Mumbai Tempo Federation has decided to increase the fare by 15 per cent from March 1.

On the other hand, the prices of fruits have vegetables have been witnessing an increase as well. In Navi Mumbai APMC Market, vegetables coming from Maharashtra and all over the country are supplied to Mumbai, Suburbs, Vasai-Virar, Kalyan, Dombivali, Panvel areas by 2,000 trains daily. Currently, the freight gates have decided to raise fares. The freighters' union have further stated that there is no alternative but to increase the tariff.

Freight rates for vegetables, onions, potatoes and fruits, which are essential commodities from APMC, will go up and will cost consumers dearly. Inflation will rise as retailers will sell vegetables, onions, potatoes and fruits at higher prices.

Places like Mumbai and Navi Mumbai currently have an average demand of 1,000 tonnes of onion per day. However, the revenue has been declining for the past few days. Earlier on February 11, 787 tonnes of onions arrived in the market, of which 40 per cent came from Gujarat. As a result of the unseasonal rainfall during the months of August-September in Maharashtra last year, farmers across the state faced huge losses due to ruined crops due to which the prices of onions gradually soared.

In all the market committees in the state, onion imports have declined by 50 to 60 per cent. In addition, onions have become more expensive in Mumbai, Thane and Pune. In the retail market, the prices have gone up to INR 50-60 per kg whereas the wholesale price of onion is INR 40 to 45 per kg. On the other hand, as per reports, the onion supplies to the wholesale agriculture produce market committee (APMC) market in Vashi have reduced by over 40 per cent, leading to a rise in prices at both wholesale and retail markets.