India launches special onion express to curb soaring vegetable prices

India has introduced a specialised rail service dubbed the 'Kanda Express' to tackle acute onion supply shortages and rising prices that have strained household budgets across the nation. The dedicated freight train will transport substantial quantities of onions from producing regions to major retail markets, helping stabilise availability in areas experiencing acute shortages.

The service is designed to ensure onions reach retailers at a controlled price of 35 Indian rupees per kilogram, significantly below recent market rates that have surged due to production constraints and distribution bottlenecks. By leveraging rail transport, authorities aim to reduce logistics costs and improve the efficiency of onion distribution networks.

Onion price volatility has become a recurring challenge for India's agricultural sector, with supply disruptions frequently triggering inflationary pressures on essential food items. The rail-based initiative represents an attempt to create a more stable supply chain and prevent price shocks that disproportionately affect lower-income households dependent on affordable vegetables.

The Kanda Express service is expected to operate as a regular service, moving onions from surplus-producing states to deficit regions where demand consistently outpaces local supply. Officials hope the programme will serve as a model for addressing seasonal price volatility in other essential food commodities.