Mumbai's dabba service to cost more due to price rise

FOOD FOR THOUGHT: Dabbawalas are confident their customers will stick to them despite the price hike.

Featured Blog

Rajdeep Sardesai

Maharaj or Dada, Ganguly's legacy lives on

Featured Slideshows

Mumbai: Pandurang has been working as a dabbawala for the last 10 years. On a salary of Rs 4,500, he cycles across the length and breadth of Mumbai's roads daily to deliver homecooked food to his clients. But the rising prices in the last few months have meant Pandurang has had to dig into his savings to survive.

“Gas, electricity and even water is expensive now. It’s very difficult to make ends meet now,” Pandurang said.

Price rise has forced the dabbawalas in the city to hike their monthly charges by Rs 50 and the new rates will be applicable from August.

They say after this hike, their earnings would increase by Rs 500 to Rs 1,000 per month.

But the dabbawalas are confident that their customers will stick to them despite the hike. And their hope doesn't seem to be misplaced.

A regular dabba customer UB Shah said, “What do these poor people do. It’s is very difficult for them after the price rise. We all affected by it.”

While another customer Viral said, “It is okay because they are hardworking and need the money."

Despite the hike, dabbas are still the cheapest lunch service in the city and one only hopes that inflation is curbed before they become out of reach for the common man.