First Kanda Express brings 453.65 tonnes of onions to Delhi

A 21-wagon train carrying 453.65 tonnes of onions from Nashik reached Delhi on Friday, adding buffer stock to the government’s ₹35-a-kg sales across Delhi-NCR.

Consumer Affairs Secretary Nidhi Khare said the onions would be sold at the subsidised rate. The arrival follows the start of ₹35-a-kg sales at 40 Delhi outlets, giving the city a dedicated rail supply as prices remain elevated.

Retail onion prices in Delhi were ₹62 a kg on Thursday, compared with ₹33 a kg a year earlier — an increase of 88%, based on Consumer Affairs Ministry data. The all-India average retail price was ₹46.58 a kg, while the wholesale rate stood at ₹38.29 a kg.

The Centre has about 1.21 lakh tonnes of onions in its buffer stock under the Price Stabilisation Fund. Khare said the release of this stock was expected to bring down Delhi’s retail prices within a week. Some of the consignment is also set to be sent onwards to Chandigarh, Ludhiana and Jammu.