Naidu orders subsidized sale of essential commodities through ration shops

Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has directed officials to ensure that essential commodities, including rice, pulses, edible oil, wheat flour and onions, are available to consumers at affordable prices.

During a review meeting on prices and supply of essential commodities on Tuesday, the chief minister directed officials to strengthen the supply network, expand subsidized sales and ensure that government interventions directly benefit consumers.

Mr. Naidu directed the officials to extend the sale of Dharani brand super fine rice outside Rythu Bazaars to villages and Mandal headquarters. Rice should also be made available through mobile vehicles to improve accessibility. Fine rice and super fine rice should be sold at ₹ 49 and ₹ 50 per kg.

Officials informed the chief minister that rice millers and wholesalers have agreed to keep the prices of certain varieties under control following talks initiated by the government. BPT steamed rice would be sold at a maximum price of ₹66 per kg, while regular steamed rice would be priced at ₹47 per kg.

The Chief Minister has called for increased vigilance at inter-state border crossings and toll gates to prevent illegal transportation of paddy fields to neighboring states. He also asked officials to review measures to reduce the burden on the paddy and rice market.

Mr. Naidu directed the civil supplies department to make toor dal, palm oil and wheat flour available through Deepavali ration shops to provide relief to consumers in the face of rising prices.

He instructed officials to supply one kg of toordal per month to each ration card holder at ₹100 through the public distribution system. With toor dal being sold at ₹170-200 per kg in the open market, he stressed the need for government intervention to reduce the burden on households. Officials have been asked to provide the necessary assistance to the center and speed up procurement and distribution.

Mr Naidu also directed officials to supply palm oil through ration shops at ₹125 per liter and start awarding of contracts through tenders to ensure adequate availability at the proposed price.

Wheat flour should be supplied through ration shops at ₹25 per kg, he said and directed officials to complete all arrangements to make the three commodities available to the beneficiaries before Deepavali.

After reviewing onion prices, officials informed the Chief Minister that onions are being sold at ₹ 35 per kg through Rythu Bazaars under the market intervention programme. Another 800 metric tonnes of onions would be procured and supplied to consumers, they said.

Prices were expected to come down further with new entrants from the Kurnool region, which would improve availability in the market.

Officials informed the Chief Minister that the price control measures will put an additional financial burden of around ₹ 100 crore per month on the government. Mr. Naidu said the government was ready to bear the expenditure to protect consumers from rising prices.

He directed officials to strengthen the supply chain and ensure availability of quality essential commodities at reasonable prices.

Chief Secretary G. Sai Prasad, Civil Supplies Department Secretary Kannababu and senior officials from various departments attended the meeting.

Published – 27 Oct 2026 20:04 IST