Welcome to the miser's market

Tucked away in a bylane near Wadala station, you can find fresh onions priced between Rs 20 and Rs 30 in this unnamed bazaar

Save for residents from Wadala (east) and a few railway commuters, not many people seem to be aware of the existence of a 4-10 pm daily market that sells onions and fish at half the prevailing price.

Tucked away close to the fourth platform on Wadala, this market sells onions at rates between Rs 20 to Rs 30.
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The onions here are of a smaller variety, while the fish is so fresh that it's actually alive while being sold

Those who do not wish to stand in a queue to purchase a platform ticket can find this market by climbing down the steps from the Nana Phadnavis Bridge connecting Wadala West to Wadala East.
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It is a thin strip that runs along the eastern side of Wadala railway station.

"I got to know of this market from a friend who was infamous for his miserliness. I call it the miser's market, since it has no official name," said a Mahim resident who took this reporter there.

The onions sold here are of a smaller variety, while the fish is so fresh that it's actually alive while being sold. The market mostly caters to household shoppers as well as hoteliers.
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A good bargain

"We get them from the Vashi vegetable market and sell them here.

Those from surrounding areas know about us, but there are a few price-conscious buyers who even come from Mahim and Bandra. They get a good bargain," a vendor said.

"I have been coming here for five years now. I have to get down at Wadala to catch my connecting train to Vashi. I get down here at 4.30 pm to do my vegetable shopping and then catch my train.
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I have even purchased vegetables from here as late as 10 pm," said Siddharthan, a Vashi resident.

Another place where onions are available between Rs 20 and Rs 40 is a shop called Sai Kripa, just outside Dadar (west) Railway Station. Here too, the lesser quality onions sell for Rs 20, while the better variety costs Rs 40.
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All other vegetable shops in the locality sell onions for Rs 50 per kg.

Big loot
Another option for those who wish to buy onions at cheaper rates and in much hygienic conditions:
The food section in Big Bazaar at Phoenix Mills tends to sell onions for Rs 35 a kg, but only on Wednesdays when it tends to cut prices to attract customers.