Will ‘Kanda Express’ Bring Down Onion Prices? First Train From Maharashtra Reaching Delhi On Sunday With 1,600 MT Onions

Onion Price Hike: The Ministry of Consumer Affairs has launched "Kanda Express" trains to transport onions from Maharashtra to high-demand cities to stabilise exorbitant prices during festivals.

Kanda Express News: In a bid to stabilise the skyrocketing prices of onions during the ongoing festive season, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs has announced the launch of the "Kanda Express" to ensure a steady supply of the staple across high-demand cities. This initiative aims to address the rising onion prices, which have surged due to limited availability and stockpiling by traders.

3 Rakes Of Kanda Express To Ensure Supply

The ministry is deploying three goods trains, named "Kanda Express", to transport onions from Maharashtra, one of India's largest onion-producing states, to various parts of the country. Each train will carry 53 truckloads of onions, amounting to 1,600 metric tonnes of the vegetable. 

According to the Ministry of Consumer Affairs, these trains have been named "Kanda Express" because "kanda" is the Marathi word for onion. The move is expected to provide a cost-effective solution, with transportation via the goods train costing Rs 34 lakh per trip, compared to Rs 75 lakh by trucks.

Kanda Express Key Destinations 

The first Kanda Express is scheduled to arrive in Delhi on October 20, supplying onions to the entire National Capital Region (NCR), Nidhi Khare, Secretary, Consumer Affairs, told ABP News.

This will be followed by another train bound for Guwahati, ensuring onion distribution across the northeastern states. The third Kanda Express will serve parts of Uttar Pradesh and Bihar, with deliveries scheduled for Lucknow and Varanasi.

Each of these trains will run as a single-service operation, aimed at providing a swift boost to local markets.

Onions are currently being sold at retail prices ranging from Rs 55 to Rs 80 per kilogram across different regions. However, the Ministry of Consumer Affairs is offering onions at a subsidised rate of Rs 35/kg through agencies like NCCF (National Cooperative Consumers’ Federation of India) and NAFED (National Agricultural Cooperative Marketing Federation of India). With the launch of the Kanda Express, it is expected that retail onion prices will drop significantly, perhaps below Rs 35/kg before Diwali.

Officials at the Ministry of Consumer Affairs believe stockpiling and black marketing by traders who are hoarding onions are behind the artificial inflation of prices, and that the government's intervention will provide relief to consumers ahead of the festival season.