Government distributes 4,000 tonnes of buffer onions across 17 cities

The Centre has sold approximately 4,000 tonnes of onions in the first ten days of a subsidised retail intervention programme covering 17 cities, according to Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare. The initiative targets major urban markets where price volatility has significantly impacted household budgets.

Onions are being retailed at Rs 35 per kilogram in select price-sensitive cities through a coordinated distribution network. Two government agencies—the National Consumers Cooperative Federation (NCCF) and the National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation (Nafed)—are managing the logistics, sourcing onions from producing states and transporting them to consuming centres through bulk shipments.

The government maintains a strategic buffer stock of 1.21 lakh tonnes of onions for 2026, ensuring sustained supply for the intervention. A specially designated freight train, the "Kanda Express," has already delivered consignments to Delhi and Chennai, with a third rake scheduled for dispatch to Guwahati in the coming days. Additional supplies are being transported by truck to reach smaller consumption hubs.

Official statements indicate that the buffer stock distribution has begun providing relief to consumers grappling with elevated onion prices. The multi-modal distribution strategy reflects the government's effort to address supply chain challenges and stabilize prices across regional markets.