First Kanda Express Arrives in Delhi With 453 Tonnes of Onions at Rs 35 Per Kg

The first 'Kanda Express', a dedicated freight train carrying approximately 453.65 tonnes of onions from Nashik, arrived in Delhi on Friday morning. The shipment is part of the central government's initiative to boost supplies across the national capital and adjoining areas amid an 88 per cent surge in retail prices.

According to Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare, the onions brought into the capital across 21 rail wagons will be sold to consumers at a subsidised rate of Rs 35 per kg throughout Delhi-NCR.

In addition to catering to the local demand in Delhi, a portion of the incoming stock will be transported to other major cities in the northern region, including Chandigarh, Ludhiana, and Jammu, to help stabilize retail markets there.

The special rake was originally scheduled to reach Delhi on Wednesday but encountered operational delays in Maharashtra. Khare noted that the train was held up due to protests staged by certain vested interest groups in Nashik. The local administration subsequently brought the situation under control, allowing the train to proceed on its journey to Delhi.

The Centre is utilising reserves from its buffer stock under the Price Stabilisation Fund to execute these market interventions. The government currently holds roughly 1.21 lakh tonnes of onion stock under this mechanism.

Following the arrival of the rake in the national capital, the Consumer Affairs Department is expanding the rail-based supply operation to other parts of the country. A separate Kanda Express rake bound for Chennai was scheduled for loading on Friday, with additional shipments slated for Madurai, Ernakulam, and Guwahati.