Potato tension will soon be eased as trucks loaded with potatoes have arrived in Odisha. This morning, one truck from Uttar Pradesh and four trucks from West Bengal reached Cuttack’s Chhatra market. The potatoes from West Bengal entered through local routes. Additionally, 10 to 12 truckloads of potatoes from Uttar Pradesh have arrived at Bhubaneswar’s Iginia market. Consumers are hopeful that potato prices will decrease with the arrival of these supplies.
Due to the West Bengal government’s earlier restrictions, potatoes were sold at Rs 30 to Rs 35 per kilogram, raising concerns among customers. Yesterday, Food Supply Minister Krishnachandra Pote announced that 300 truckloads of potatoes from Uttar Pradesh would arrive in the state today. This morning, Cuttack’s Chhatrabazar saw the arrival of one truckload from Uttar Pradesh and four from West Bengal, while Bhubaneswar received 10 truckloads from Uttar Pradesh.
Sudhakar Panda, general editor of the Odisha Traders Association, confirmed the arrival of four truckloads from West Bengal and one from Uttar Pradesh at Chhatrabazar this morning. The government has assured that 300 more truckloads from Uttar Pradesh will reach different parts of the state soon.
It is important to note that a few days ago, the West Bengal government halted the release of potatoes to Odisha, causing hundreds of vehicles to get stuck at the Odisha-West Bengal border, resulting in a potato shortage in the market.