Sources indicate that this initiative may also soon be extended to other cities, the reports said.
Over the past month, tomato prices in Delhi and its surrounding areas have nearly doubled, driven by prolonged monsoon rains and high humidity affecting major tomato-producing states such as Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka, and Maharashtra, according to the reports.
These weather conditions have also raised concerns about the quality of the produce.
Union Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare has said that the government is trying to curb the skyrocketing prices of tomatoes through retail market intervention.
He added that this would lower the tomato prices in the next three-four days.
The tomato prices have been rising relentlessly despite regular supply to mandis, the Consumer Affairs Department has said, according to the reports.
The department also indicated that market intermediaries might be contributing to price inflation during this high-demand festive period.
To address the issue, the NCCF is purchasing tomatoes directly from mandis and offering them at a subsidized rate in an effort to reduce prices.
Meanwhile, in Andhra Pradesh, the state government has decided to sell onion and tomatoes at affordable rates through Rythu Bazaars.
Currently, onions are priced between Rs 55 and Rs 70 per kg, while tomatoes are being sold at Rs 90 per kg.
In all Rythu Bazaars across Andhra Pradesh's 13 districts, tomatoes will be sold at Rs 50 per kilogram, even though the wholesale market price ranges between Rs 70 and Rs 75. Similarly, onion prices will be maintained at Rs 40 to Rs 45 per kg, despite the surge in market rates, said the media reports.
These interventions by both the Central and Andhra Pradesh governments amid rising vegetable prices is likely to bring relief to the common man during the festive season.