Mumbai: Prices of Mumbai’s staple vada pav, misal/omelette pav, pav bhaji, bun maska and sandwiches are likely to rise if Mumbai’s bakeries are left with no option but to shift to greener ovens as directed by the Bombay High Court.
Nearly 1,000 bakeries supply the essential pav, bun, brun and bread that Mumbaikars consume daily. If compelled to adopt environmentally non-polluting PNG gas-based ovens, these establishments say the prices of products such as pav will escalate by as much as Rs 1.50 per piece.
Khodadad Irani, president of the Indian Bakers Association, said the expenditure for installing PNG (piped natural gas)-based ovens and the subsequent gas consumption would be approximately 3-4 times higher than for coal and wood, which have been traditionally used. Irani said the calorific value of wood or charcoal helps maintain uniform heat in the oven dome throughout the day. Compared to the limited quantities of coal or wood presently used, if bakeries were to consume more gas to maintain temperature, it would be a costlier proposition.
Acting on a directive of Bombay High Court, BMC has asked bakeries and restaurants to shift to clean fuels such as electricity, CNG, PNG, and LPG by July 8. The smoke from the chimneys of bakeries adds to toxic PM2.5/PM10 particulate matter leading to air pollution.
According to Irani, the expenditure for a 100 to 150 sq ft oven would range from Rs 15-20 lakh, with extended periods required to achieve profitability. Substituting the existing 150 sq ft coal or wood-based oven domes with PNG stoves would also cause business disruption, potentially leading to temporary supply shortages, he said, noting that the coal-based oven domes might require demolition to accommodate PNG facilities.
“Consequently, price of standard pav that is consumed throughout the Mumbai region and beyond will increase by Rs 1.50 per piece,” he said.
Irani said the govt should offer 50-60% subsidy along with long term loans at reduced rates to support such small businesses which generate jobs and govt revenue.
Samajwadi Party legislator Rais Shaikh posted on X on Friday that “With BMC’s abrupt ban on wood and charcoal, pav prices may increase Rs 3 to Rs 5, affecting every Mumbaikar’s budget. Vada Pav, Misal Pav—our street food culture will get imperiled. I have written to BMC requesting an urgent hearing for bakers and Irani cafes to determine a practical solution.”
Sudhakar Shetty, AHAR President and proprietor of Gopalkrishna restaurant in JB Nagar, indicated that if pav, bread, or bun prices increase, food items incorporating them would become costlier in restaurants.
Mumbai: Prices of Mumbai’s staple vada pav, misal/omelette pav, pav bhaji, bun maska and sandwiches are likely to rise if Mumbai’s bakeries are left with no option but to shift to greener ovens as directed by the Bombay High Court.
Nearly 1,000 bakeries supply the essential pav, bun, brun and bread that Mumbaikars consume daily. If compelled to adopt environmentally non-polluting PNG gas-based ovens, these establishments say the prices of products such as pav will escalate by as much as Rs 1.50 per piece.
Khodadad Irani, president of the Indian Bakers Association, said the expenditure for installing PNG (piped natural gas)-based ovens and the subsequent gas consumption would be approximately 3-4 times higher than for coal and wood, which have been traditionally used. Irani said the calorific value of wood or charcoal helps maintain uniform heat in the oven dome throughout the day. Compared to the limited quantities of coal or wood presently used, if bakeries were to consume more gas to maintain temperature, it would be a costlier proposition.
Acting on a directive of Bombay High Court, BMC has asked bakeries and restaurants to shift to clean fuels such as electricity, CNG, PNG, and LPG by July 8. The smoke from the chimneys of bakeries adds to toxic PM2.5/PM10 particulate matter leading to air pollution.
According to Irani, the expenditure for a 100 to 150 sq ft oven would range from Rs 15-20 lakh, with extended periods required to achieve profitability. Substituting the existing 150 sq ft coal or wood-based oven domes with PNG stoves would also cause business disruption, potentially leading to temporary supply shortages, he said, noting that the coal-based oven domes might require demolition to accommodate PNG facilities.
“Consequently, price of standard pav that is consumed throughout the Mumbai region and beyond will increase by Rs 1.50 per piece,” he said.
Irani said the govt should offer 50-60% subsidy along with long term loans at reduced rates to support such small businesses which generate jobs and govt revenue.
Samajwadi Party legislator Rais Shaikh posted on X on Friday that “With BMC’s abrupt ban on wood and charcoal, pav prices may increase Rs 3 to Rs 5, affecting every Mumbaikar’s budget. Vada Pav, Misal Pav—our street food culture will get imperiled. I have written to BMC requesting an urgent hearing for bakers and Irani cafes to determine a practical solution.”
Sudhakar Shetty, AHAR President and proprietor of Gopalkrishna restaurant in JB Nagar, indicated that if pav, bread, or bun prices increase, food items incorporating them would become costlier in restaurants.
