Tamil Nadu

Price hike: hotels have become costlier

Even as the government asked the restaurant owners and hoteliers to reduce the prices of delicacies, people in Salem continue to pay high prices for food items.

Two idlis are still sold at Rs. 12 to 14 in a majority of the restaurants in the city.

A dosa costs Rs. 18 to 20 and a special crisp dosa is Rs. 22 to 25.

The masala dosa is priced at a staggering Rs. 25.

People pay Rs. 28 to 35 for full meals with sambar, rasam, poriyal, kootu, curd, papad, sweet and pickle.

Limited meals with sambar, rasam, poriyal, kootu, papad, butter milk and pickle costs Rs. 22 to 25. The restaurants charge Rs. 40 to parcel full meals. Two parathas cost Rs. 24 to 26.

Regular eaters charge that a few restaurants have even reduced the quantity and the size.

The high prices prevail in the city despite a decision to reduce the food prices by 10 to 15 percent from June 3 taken at a meeting of the Hotel Owners Association with Food Minister E.V. Velu.

The reduction in the prices of food items is mere eyewash.

Many people in the city feel that the restaurants in the city have not strictly adhered to the government’s notifications.

A person has to spend at least Rs. 150, if he or she has to take breakfast, lunch and dinner in the city’s moderately priced restaurants/hotels.

Many middle class families have stopped eating out in the restaurants/hotels due to the abnormal rise in the prices of food items.

A family of four has to spend at least Rs. 200 to 250 for having dinner at a decent restaurant, a banker points out.

When contacted, Salem Hotel Owners’ Association President Subramaniam said that the association would conduct a survey and initiate necessary actions in this regard.

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