Mana Kuragayalu at Mana Metro

​Hyderabad: This is good news for people staying in the vicinity of Hyderabad Metro Rail stations as well as passengers using the new urban transport system. Mana Kuragayalu, the outlets selling farm fresh vegetables and fruits at affordable rates at various places in the state capital, are set to make their way into Metro Rail stations between Miyapur and Nagole.

In the first phase, eleven stalls would be thrown open to public between Miyapur-Paradise stretch. Marketing department is targeting to inaugurate the outlets on June 2, coinciding with Telangana Formation Day. Similar stalls between Secunderabad and Nagole would be taken up in the next phase.

Marketing Minister T Harish Rao took up this proposal with Metro Rail MD NVS Reddy after which decks were cleared for stalls at various stations to benefit scores of city residents.

Telangana government started this initiative in Hyderabad in August 2014. At present there are 55 such stalls across the state capital, including various government offices like Secretariat, BRKR Bhavan, Jala Soudha as well as KBR Park, Sardar Patel Nagar in Kukatpally to name a few.

YJ Padma Harsha, general manager, Mana Kuragayalu project stated that Mana Kuragayalu outlets would be established at the street-level area near steps so that passengers and locals can just drop in and buy vegetables and fruits of their choice.

Concourse level was not preferred as the facility would be confined to passengers only, she explained.
According to Harsha, Mana Kuragayalu concept has been well received by the urban population because they are able to buy quality vegetables at affordable prices. Fresh broccoli that costs around Rs 150 to Rs 250 per kg in super markets is sold for Rs 80 in our stalls, she added.

“Nearly 55 to 60 varieties of vegetables, leafy vegetables, fruits are being sold depending on requirements in particular area. For instance, daily walkers at KBR Park buy exotic varieties whereas in stalls at government offices, demand is more for leafy vegetables and regular ones like onions, tomatoes, potatoes and green chillies,” the Mana Kuragayalu head said.

Due to demand from customers, brown bread, eggs and Vijaya milk have been added recently to the list of items being sold in Mana Kuragayalu outlets. It may be mentioned here that under this scheme vegetables and fruits will be purchased directly from the farmers of Medak, Ranga Reddy and Mahbubnagar districts through 26 procurement centres after which they would be sent to centralised distribution centre set up in the Bowenpally market, where they will be sorted, graded, packed and stored in the cold storage if required.

Later these vegetables and fruits would be sent to Mana Kuragayalu outlets located at various places in the city.

By: Mahesh Avadhutha