Eating out gets costlier as milk, veggie prices go up

BENGALURU: Following the hike in milk and soaring vegetable prices, eating out has now become dearer with food items in hotels and bakery products getting costlier. The hoteliers have already increased food prices due to the rising cost of vegetables and other inputs.

A meeting was held at a private hotel in Kanakapura a few days ago by the hoteliers’ association to discuss increasing the prices of hotel food as the prices of essential items have increased. In the meeting, it was agreed increased the price by 10 per cent effective from August 1.

All hotel owners of the city participated in the meeting. The owners of some hotels proposed an increase of 20 per cent, but it  was felt that such a steep hike will burden customers. Therefore, the price of coffee has been increased by Rs 3, breakfast items by Rs 5 and meals by Rs 10 after the hike 10 per cent.

P C Rao, president of the Bangalore Hotels Association, speaking after the meeting, said it has become necessary to increase the prices of food products in hotels as they have to maintain quality, cleanliness and taste. “We had already decided to increase prices by 10 per cent after the first round meeting, but some hotels demanded a 20 per cent hike. But such a hike will be a burden on customers and therefore, a meeting of all the hotel owners was called, and it was agreed to increase the price by 10 per cent. This price will be effective on August 1”.

“This price hike is only for those affiliated to the Bangalore Hotels Association. The Karnataka Hotel Association will decide on the prices in other districts. We are also considering submitting a request to the government to reduce the price of petrol and diesel. It is said that the main reason for the price rise are the increase in transportation charges, electricity and the price of essential items. We will write a letter to the state and central governments in the coming days”, Rao added.

The price of rice bath has been hiked from Rs 40-Rs 55 to Rs 44-Rs 55. The earlier price of a plate of idli was Rs 30-Rs 40, and henceforth, it will jump to Rs 40-Rs 50. The price of set dosa will rise from Rs 60-Rs 65 to Rs 65 to Rs 70, Butter Masala  dosa from Rs 70 to Rs 80, chow chow bath from Rs 40-Rs 50 to Rs 50 -Rs 60. The price of a plate of poori will go up from Rs 50-Rs 60 to Rs 55 -Rs 65, mini meals from Rs 60-Rs 65 to Rs 70 -Rs 75, rice and sambar from Rs 40-Rs 50 to Rs 50- Rs 60, badam milk from Rs 15 to Rs 18, curd rice from Rs 40-Rs 50 to Rs 45-Rs 55, chapati from Rs 40-50 to Rs 50-Rs 60. The price of Bisibele bath will also go up from the current Rs 40-Rs 50 to Rs 45-Rs 55.