The Kamrup (metro) district administration on Wednesday tried to supply vegetables through trucks placed at 82 locations across 60 wards from 9am to 2pm after a few unsuccessful attempts in the past 14 days.

However, residents and those involved in the process said some finetuning was required for smooth distribution.

Though the administration extended the locations to 91 later in the day, a Bhangagarh resident, while welcoming the new system, said, “By just saying trucks will be stationed in Bhangagarh/Ganeshguri is not enough. Bhangagarh or Ganeshguri are huge areas. The administration should categorically earmark the areas where trucks/vendors will be stationed. More trucks will be required to stem the rush and maintain social distancing for we don’t know how long this lockdown will continue,” said Raju Choudhury of Bhangagarh.

The 91 vending points, across 60 wards of the Guwahati Municipal Corporation, will be monitored by a supervising official and a zonal supervisor of the food and civil supplies department. The point of sale will be set up in the main market points of the designated areas.

All the vegetables will have to be sold as per prices fixed by the administration and action will be taken against persons who are found hoarding or selling vegetables at a price higher than the fixed MRP.

The administration has also permitted 10 vendors in Guwahati to deliver vegetables through online mode. The decision was taken so that residents can get the essential vegetables delivered at their homes and do not venture out in large numbers to buy supplies.

The online vendors are Taza Sabji, Freshdo, Social Enterprise Experts Group (SeujCart app), Chamua Engg, Prithvii Agrofresh, Neramac, Nayan Pratim Kumar, Temptation, Ace Group of Institutions and Kiega Exims.

These vendors will operate through mobile applications as well as phone calls. A minimum price for the delivery will be charged though.

Each of these services is receiving around 600 orders per day but at maximum, they are able to deliver only 300 orders. One of the major reason was the lack of manpower and shortage of packaging items.

An official source said the sale of vegetables and other food items, except for groceries, was stopped in the city because people were gathering in large numbers in the shops. As a precaution, seven designated points were introduced on March 27 but owing to the huge demand, that project was also stopped.

Rupjyoti Deka, a resident of Downtown, said the step to allow designated vendors, identified by the government, was a very good decision as the prices will not be inflated. He added that he had ordered through one of the apps that were listed by the government, and he was still waiting for delivery.

Gaurav Sharma, a resident of Six Mile, said he had ordered some vegetables through an app after seeing a post on social media but it has been seven days, and the order was yet to arrive. He said the app had no contact number.