Mumbai Beat

Bread likely to cost more

After the skyrocketing prices of onion, potato and other vegetables, the common man is likely to face increase in prices of bread.

Pav-ladi, comprising eight pavs, which is being sold at Rs 4currently in Mumbai, is likely to cost more due to the steep increase in prices of maida, firewood, edible oils and vanaspati in the recent past, which had become a issue of survival for the bakery industry, industry sources said.

Shyam Pokle, vice-president of Bombay Bakers8217; Association said bakers hardly increase bread prices. They prefer to hike prices of other bakery products like toasts, sandwiches and butter, so that lower-class people aren8217;t affected. But increase in water charges and electricity has put extra burden on bakers, Pokle said.

According to Pokle, prices of a maida bag 90 kg have gone up to Rs 870-880 from Rs 700 per bag in the last two months. Similarly, loose oil, priced at Rs 38 per kg, had gone up to Rs 45-46 per kg. Firewood cost Rs 170-180 per quintal, as against the earlier price of Rs 150.

To avoid increase in bread prices, Pokle suggested the government should make wheat and maida available at concessional rates with immediate effect.