Onions sold for around Rs 20 a kg on Monday, while potatoes were available for Rs 18 a kg at the Khanderao and Nagarwada markets. District Supply Officer Ashok Singh, however, said onions and potatoes were being sold for Rs 16 and Rs 10 a kg at at least nine points in the city.

Though Express Newsline found prices higher than what the DSO mentioned -- depending mostly on the quality -- the difference in the prices today and last week was palpable.

The onions and potatoes sold at nominal prices reportedly came from the huge stocks hoarded by two of the main merchants of the Khanderao Market over three days. Singh said his officials had directed the merchants to disburse their stock for sale at nominal prices.

The sale at the nine points would continue for at least a couple of days more as 450 bags of potatoes (each bag weighing 80 kg) and 35 bags of onions (each bag weighing 40 kg) had been seized, the DSO said.

There is more good news in store for Vadodara consumers, Singh said, adding that since the Uttar Pradesh government had lifted its restriction on the movement of potatoes, the city would receive more of the commodity. ``The same will happen with onions when supplies come from Nashik and Hubli'', he said, adding, however, that there was no shortfall in supply as the city was receiving more than 16 tonnes each of both daily, which was more than its consumption.

Singh said his officers were also keeping a watch on the stocks of salt, onions and potatoes at various godowns and wholesalers throughout the district.