In the wake of ongoing farmers' protests, security measures including the sealing of state borders around Delhi have sparked concerns over the supply of essentials, potentially hiking retail prices of fruits and vegetables.
Despite these measures, traders have observed a significant drop in customer footfall from NCR towns to Delhi's malls and markets, attributing a 75% decrease to border closures and resultant traffic congestion. Azadpur Mandi, Asia's largest fruit and vegetable market, has yet to see a direct impact on goods' arrival, but stakeholders fear prolonged protests could strain supplies.
Anil Malhotra, of Azadpur Vegetable Dealers Association, maintains that business remains unaffected, suggesting that delays in transportation might occur, yet supply shortages are unlikely. Rajveer Singh, a wholesaler at Ghazipur Mandi, noted delays in truck arrivals but no immediate wholesale price changes, though some retailers might have increased prices.
Source: timesofindia.indiatimes.com