Commercial LPG Prices: Licensed vendors providing food items such as poori sabzi, sandwiches and other eatables at railway platforms stalls, trays and food trolleys have requested Indian Railways to revise rates. This was after prices for commercial Liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) were heavily increased.
Recently, the Union Government raised the prices of 19 kilograms commercial LPG cylinders by Rs. 993, making the new prices to Rs. 3071.50.
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Commercial LPG Prices-Why The Price Revision?
According to licensed vendors, the rates for stalls serving food on India’s railway platforms were fixed way back in 2012, fourteen years ago. The vendors claimed that inflation has risen considerably since then and therefore price revisions are highly justified.
In a letter from the All India Railway Catering Licensees Welfare Association to the Rail Ministry, it was urged that immediate relief must be provided to license holders operating trays, dhabas, food stalls, trolleys and other vending units at railway platforms.
Will Your Train Tiffin Cost More?
If the Rail Ministry agrees to the request, passengers may soon pay a little extra for their on-the-go meals. While no one enjoys higher prices, the hike could help ensure that vendors maintain hygiene standards, portion sizes and service quality rather than cutting corners to cope with rising costs.
For many of these vendors, margins are already thin. The cost of ingredients such as edible oil, vegetables and packaged goods has been steadily climbing over the years. Add to that the recent spike in commercial LPG prices, and the pressure becomes even more intense. Vendors argue that without a fair price revision, they are left with two difficult choices of either to absorb the losses or reduce the quality and quantity of food served.
Ultimately, this situation highlights a broader issue as to how fixed pricing systems can fall out of sync with economic realities. For now, whether your train tiffin becomes more expensive depends on how quickly authorities respond.
