Shops charge twice MRP at Yadagirigutta Laxmi Narasimha Swamy temple: Devotees

Hyderabad: Devotees visiting Yadagirigutta Laxmi Narasimha Swamy temple in Bhongir have complained about being fleeced by shopkeepers on the premises of the temple.

C. R. Vijay Kumar, a resident of Hyderabad, said that on February 15, he and his family members visited the temple and were shocked to see that all the shops were selling eatables at almost double the Maximum Retail Price. “We visit the temple on a monthly basis and were shocked to see that all the shops are following the same,” he said.

Devotees claim that all items, from the smallest like a chips packet to snacks that are made at the shops cost double the MRP. “More complaints have started coming in as the devotees feel these activities will affect the number of devotees who travel from afar,” he said. T. Sudhir, another devotee, said that there is no regular checking at these shops. “Even when we say that we will complain about overpricing, all the shopkeepers are confident and ask us to proceed. There is no hotel nearby and therefore people have no choice but to buy from these shops.”

The complainants have approached the officials of Department of Consumer Affairs, who have promised to take action.