Kozhikode food prices diverge as eateries cite gas shortage, input costs
Kozhikode eateries unilaterally raise food prices citing LPG shortage and input costs, sparking consumer complaints and calls for official intervention.
Food prices across Kozhikode have become noticeably inconsistent, with several hotels, restaurants, and roadside eateries independently raising rates. Traders attribute the hikes to a shortage of commercial liquefied petroleum gas cylinders and the rising cost of essential commodities. The disparity has drawn public criticism, especially since many outlets have not updated their displayed price lists.
Local mess houses and food cart operators are also charging more, allegedly taking advantage of infrequent inspections. Hostel students report that the increase is especially visible on online food delivery platforms. Some Kozhikode Corporation councillors have raised the issue at recent council meetings, but residents say no concrete action has followed.
Sangeetha Muraleedharan, a Kudumbashree worker from Eranhipalam, alleged that traders have little regard for customer rights. She noted that even elected local body representatives are aware of the practice, yet authorities have remained passive. An autorickshaw drivers' union leader in the city pointed out that food vendors have begun displaying their own price boards, questioning whether such independent revisions are legally permissible.
The variation is most evident near tourist spots, bus stands, hospitals, streets, and malls. Tea prices, for instance, range from ₹10 at some local stalls to over ₹15 at certain restaurants. Multiplexes have also drawn complaints for charging steep rates under the pretext of offering air-conditioned spaces.
The District Consumer Protection Committee has criticised the District Supply Office for staying silent on public complaints despite its mandate to monitor price fluctuations. Committee leaders believe the Corporation's planned discussions with the Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association may yield little impact. T.K.A. Azeez, the committee's district president, urged the District Collector to intervene and called for an urgent meeting of the Food Advisory Committee, which has been pending for months.
Meanwhile, the Hotel and Restaurant Owners Association maintains that no unreasonable hikes have occurred at its member establishments. The association says it is prepared to clarify its position at any meeting convened by authorities in response to consumer protests.