The Andhra Pradesh Civil Supplies Corporation has opened a special counter selling Dharani brand fortified fine rice in Ongole, offering two varieties at prices below the current market rates cited by the district supply department. The facility is located at the super bazaar opposite Prakasam Bhavan, near the collectorate.
District supply officer S. Padmasri inaugurated the counter on Saturday with the approval of joint collector Kalpana Kumari. The initiative is intended to make quality rice available to common and middle-class families at affordable prices amid rising market rates, according to the district supply department.
The BPT variety is being sold at Rs 49 per kg, while the KNM variety is priced at Rs 50 per kg. The sales counter is expected to serve residents of Ongole and surrounding areas through the district’s civil supplies network.
The rice is fortified with iron, folic acid and Vitamin B12. These nutrients are intended to help address nutritional deficiencies, including anaemia. The intervention therefore combines the public distribution of a staple food with a nutritional objective, although the source report does not provide details on daily stock availability, purchase limits or the duration of the counter’s operation.
The location near Prakasam Bhavan places the facility within the administrative centre of the district. For residents, access will depend not only on the listed price but also on the counter’s operating hours, stock continuity and the ease of travel from surrounding neighbourhoods and villages. No information was provided on whether additional counters will be opened elsewhere in Ongole or Prakasam district.
The opening reflects the role of state civil supplies agencies in responding to changes in food prices and household affordability. Such counters can provide a direct retail channel for government-supported food products, but their practical reach depends on how consistently supplies are maintained and whether residents are aware of the facility.
Padmasri urged people in Ongole and nearby areas to use the counter. The district administration has not announced further operational details in the supplied information, including the next review of prices, the quantity of rice available or any expansion of the sales arrangement.
