Tamil Nadu Starts Selling Tomatoes At Half Price In Ration Shops, Huge Queues In Chennai. In Pics

Long queues were seen in Chennai as the Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday launched the sale of tomatoes at subsidised rates at fair price shops.

Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday launched an initiative under the government’s Public Distribution System to sell tomatoes at half price. Here is a look at it:

With retail tomato prices shooting up to Rs 155 per kg across major cities in the country, the Tamil Nadu government on Tuesday launched the sale of the kitchen staple at Rs 60 a kilo at 82 fair price shops in Chennai. (Source: PTI)

People were seen queueing up to buy tomatoes at a cheaper price after the roll out of the initiative. The sale is restricted to 1 kg per person. In other markets, tomatoes are being sold at Rs 120-140 per kg across the state. (Source: PTI)

Besides fair price shops, Pannai Pasumai (Farm Fresh) outlets in Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode and Vellore are making tomatoes available at Rs 60 per kilo. (Source: PTI)

In a meeting, Minister for Cooperatives KR Periyakaruppan directed the cooperatives and horticulture department officials to identify the tomato cultivation areas and ensure an uninterrupted supply to the consumers. (Source: PTI)

The stocks were getting sold within a few minutes on arrival in the 65-odd farm-fresh veggie outlets in Tamil Nadu. (Source: PTI)

The government said the initiative would be extended to other parts of the state if required. (Source: PTI)

The recent heavy rainfall in southern states has pushed up the prices of vegetables, especially tomatoes. The prices are expected to cool down in the next 15 days, the government has said. (Source: PTI)