Rising dal prices may force Mumbai eateries to hike rates

You may have to soon pay more for eating out, as hoteliers in the city have said they will hike rates of items on the menu by this month-end because the rising price of dal and pulses have hit them hard.

You may have to soon pay more for eating out, as hoteliers in the city have said they will hike rates of items on the menu by this month-end because the rising price of dal and pulses have hit them hard.

As prices of dal and pulses rise, hoteliers in Mumbai say they will hike rates on the menu. (REUTERS)

“We are somehow managing, but this can’t last long. We will have to hike rates. Dal is one of the main ingredients and its price rise is a huge burden on us. We will wait and see if things improve. If they don’t, we will hike rates from November,” said Adarsh Shetty, president, Indian Hotel and Restaurant Association (AHAR).

While many restaurants in the city have already started serving dal only during lunch and dinner time, some eateries have been forced to remove some food items, which are made of dal or pulses, from their menu.

Naresh Shetty, who owns Shri Krishna Veg Heaven at Lalbaug, expressed helplessness.

“I have never seen such a steep hike. It is not feasible for hoteliers to sell dal items, but we have no choice, as it is one of the most popular dishes at any restaurant. We looking towards the government for some relief,” he said.

The Hotels and Restaurant Association of Western India (HRWAI) said it was adopting a “wait-and-watch” policy. “We normally hike prices keeping in mind the inflation, but if things do not improve, we will have to do it twice — now and again in December,” said Kamlesh Barot, ex-president, HRWAI.