Traders in the Koyambedu market complex made nearly 30 per cent more than their daily sales on Monday. Retailers flocked the wholesale hub to stock more supply as over 3,000 shops plan to down shutters on Tuesday in support of Sri Lankan Tamils.
This time, traders in the flower market and over 20,000 labourers are also participating in the day-long fast and will suspend business till 6 p.m. on Tuesday. On Monday, the market received nearly 20 per cent more than the average 700-800 lorry loads of produce, including fruits and flowers.
M.Thyagarajan, a wholesale trader in tomato, said potatoes, onions and garlic have been stocked.
Nearly 90 per cent of the vegetables were cleared by noon and were sold for a higher price as many of them took two days supply. For instance, tomatoes, which were sold for Rs.20 a kg on Sunday, were sold for Rs.30 a kg in the wholesale market. “We expect most vegetables to be sold at Rs. 10-15 more a kg in the retail market,” he said.
Vehicles coming from far-off States such as Maharashtra were diverted to other markets en route if they were unable to reach before Monday evening.
The daily turnover of the market is estimated to be Rs.10 crore, including sale of fruits and flowers. S. Srinivasan of fruits market said “We did not order extra load as there is not enough cold storage facility. Fruits would cost at least 10 per cent more on Tuesday.”
For flower merchants, the loss would amount to nearly Rs.50 lakh for remaining closed till the evening.
