Amma water sales climb as summer sets in, private players take a hit

Data available with the Transport department shows that the sale of mineral water has increased both in the city and districts with the onset of summer. The Tamil Nadu State Transport Department manages supply of the Amma brand of mineral water, which, priced at Rs 10 for a one litre bottle, is what most passengers prefer to buy as opposed to spending Rs 15 for water provided by railway department and Rs. 20 for water from private manufacturers. 

Sources added that the state has a total of 304 Amma mineral water outlets, most of which are located at the main bus terminal, bus stands and stops. Chennai city alone has 41 such outlets.

Sundaram, deputy manager, Amma Water Plant, said, “We have observed a gradual increase in the sales of bottles of Amma mineral water in all our outlets. Sales have been picking up since this month and we hope it will continue till the summer ends.” He also attributed the increase in sales to the cost and quality of the water. He was sure that there would be no shortage of water supply as they were supplying water bottles in line with the need. Their salesmen were hard at work, selling water bottles at all the main bus stands in the city. 

“A larger number of bus commuters and the general public are buying Amma water bottles. Some are even buying two or three bottles, with the city seeing sweltering temperatures,” said a salesman at the Vadapalani bus stand. 

The Amma outlet at the Koyambedu bus stand, the biggest bus terminus in the city, is seeing heavy crowds. “I am going to Madurai, and I have bought three mineral water bottles for the journey,” said S Chiranjeevi, a businessman. He also frequently travels to Chennai and never omits to buy the Amma brand. He felt that it had turned out to be a boon to the public.

Private players involved in the packaged drinking water business say that they had observed a slight dip in the sales of mineral water after the state government launched the Amma Kudineer Scheme. “We used to sell around 12,000 bottles. This has now declined to 9,000 to 10,000. 

Further, we are also providing quality water at a slightly higher price (Rs. 20),” said an employee from a leading private manufacturing unit in the state.