The Centre has moved 450 tonnes of onions from Lasalgaon to Delhi through a special freight train as part of efforts to cool rising prices ahead of the festive season.
Subsidised retail sales at ₹35 per kg are set to begin in Delhi through NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar, with the programme expected to expand across NCR.
Highlights
- Kanda Express left Lasalgaon with around 450 tonnes of onions for Delhi.
- The special freight train has 21 wagons and is expected to reach Adarsh Nagar.
- Government will sell onions in Delhi at a subsidised price of ₹35 per kg.
- NAFED, NCCF and Kendriya Bhandar will handle retail distribution.
- Subsidised sales are expected to expand to other parts of NCR by the weekend.
- The Centre plans to send 840 tonnes of onions to Delhi from its buffer stock.
Consumers in Delhi are set to get some relief from rising onion prices as the government begins subsidised retail sales at ₹35 per kilogram and moves fresh supplies to the capital through a special freight train called the Kanda Express.
The Kanda Express departed from Lasalgaon in Maharashtra’s Nashik district on Wednesday carrying around 450 tonnes of onions. Lasalgaon is one of the country’s biggest onion trading centres.
The 21-wagon special freight train left for Delhi at around 3.10 pm and is expected to reach Adarsh Nagar station. The movement of onions by rail has been arranged as part of the government’s efforts to improve supplies and contain prices in the capital ahead of the festive season.
The Centre has decided to move 840 tonnes of onions to Delhi from stocks procured under the Price Stabilisation Fund. The latest consignment of around 450 tonnes forms a major part of this supply intervention.
Alongside the additional supplies, subsidised retail sales of onions at ₹35 per kg are being launched in the national capital.
The distribution will be carried out through three government-linked agencies — National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India (NAFED), National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India (NCCF) and Kendriya Bhandar.
NCCF Managing Director Anice Joseph Chandra said the sale of subsidised onions would begin at different locations in Delhi and is expected to be expanded across the wider National Capital Region by the weekend.
The intervention comes after onion prices increased sharply in retail markets, putting pressure on household budgets. By releasing buffer stocks and moving larger quantities directly to consumption centres, the government is seeking to increase availability and moderate market prices.
The Kanda Express is also expected to help transport large quantities of onions faster and more efficiently from major producing centres to cities facing higher prices.
With the festive season approaching, the government is likely to closely monitor onion supplies and retail prices. The combination of buffer-stock releases, rail transportation and subsidised sales is aimed at preventing further price escalation while providing immediate relief to consumers.
