First ‘Kanda Express’ reaches Delhi with 453 tonnes of Onion amid price rise

NewsBharati    28-Aug-2026 15:52:13 PM
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New Delhi , August 28: In a move aimed at improving onion supplies and controlling rising prices, the Centre’s first dedicated ‘Kanda Express’, carrying around 453.65 tonnes of onions from Nashik, Maharashtra, reached Delhi on Friday morning. The onions will be sold at a subsidised price of ₹35 per kg in Delhi-NCR, compared with the prevailing retail price of around ₹62 per kg. By releasing large quantities from its buffer stock at a lower price, the government expects to increase market availability, encourage competitive pricing and bring down retail onion prices over the coming days.

KANDA EXPRESS 
 
The special railway rake transported the onions in 21 wagons from Nashik to the national capital. The stock will be sold in Delhi-NCR at a subsidised rate of ₹35 per kg. A portion of the consignment will also be sent to nearby cities, including Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jammu.
 
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The Centre currently holds around 1.21 lakh tonnes of onions as buffer stock under the Price Stabilisation Fund. The government is releasing this stock in major markets to increase availability and help check a sharp rise in retail prices.
  
According to data from the Consumer Affairs Ministry, the retail price of onions in Delhi rose to ₹62 per kg on Thursday, compared with ₹33 per kg during the same period last year, marking an increase of around 88 per cent.
The all-India average retail price stood at ₹46.58 per kg, while the average wholesale price was ₹38.29 per kg.
 
 
 
Officials have said that the release of buffer stock is expected to bring down onion prices in Delhi within a week. Despite the recent price rise, the government maintains that onion availability remains comfortable to meet domestic demand in the coming months.
 
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The Kanda Express initiative was launched in 2024-25 to improve the transportation of onions over long distances and reduce logistical challenges. During its first year, 14 railway rakes transported nearly 12,000 tonnes of onions to five cities.
 
The initiative has now expanded significantly. In 2025-26, around 86 rakes carrying nearly 88,000 tonnes of onions were dispatched to 16 major cities across the country.
 
After Delhi, rakes are scheduled for Chennai, Madurai, Ernakulam and Guwahati, further strengthening the supply chain.
 
The government estimates onion production at around 307.37 lakh tonnes in 2025-26, broadly in line with the previous year's production, indicating sufficient availability to meet domestic demand.

onions Delhi Chandigarh Ludhiana Jammu Kanda Express