Politics · India Bureau
India launches dedicated onion express as prices spike across regions
The first Kanda Express, a specialized freight train carrying over 450 tonnes of onions from Maharashtra, has arrived in Delhi as the government steps up efforts to stabilize spiraling vegetable prices across northern India.
LSN India ·
A dedicated rail service began operations Friday with the arrival of the inaugural Kanda Express in the national capital, transporting 453.65 tonnes of onions from Nashik in 21 wagons. The initiative marks an escalation in government efforts to manage onion supply shortages and moderate retail prices that have surged in recent weeks.
The onions will be distributed across Delhi and the National Capital Region at a subsidized rate of Rs 35 per kilogram, according to Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare. Additional stock will be redirected to neighboring urban centers including Chandigarh, Ludhiana, and Jammu to address supply constraints in these markets.
The government is deploying onions from its buffer stock maintained under the Price Stabilisation Fund, which currently holds approximately 1.21 lakh tonnes. Three additional Kanda Express rakes are scheduled to depart for Chennai, Madurai, Ernakulam, and Guwahati in succession, extending the supply intervention to major cities across southern and eastern regions.
Official projections suggest the coordinated release of buffer stocks through this rail-based distribution network will exert downward pressure on retail onion prices in target markets. The express service represents a departure from conventional supply channels, designed to expedite delivery and ensure fresher produce reaches consumers during periods of elevated demand.